title: Understanding the Adoption Process of National Security Technology: An Integration of Diffusion of Innovations and Volitional Behavior Theories.
abstract: After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government initiated several national security technology adoption programs. The American public, however, has been skeptical about these initiatives and adoption of national security technologies has been mandated, rather than voluntary. We propose and test a voluntary behavioral intention formation model for the adoption of one type of new security technology: portable radiation detectors. Portable radiation detectors are an efficient way of detecting radiological and nuclear threats and could potentially prevent loss of life and damage to individuals' health. However, their functioning requires that a critical mass of individuals use them on a daily basis. We combine the explanatory advantages of diffusion of innovation with the predictive power of two volitional behavior frameworks: the theory of reasoned action and the health belief model. A large sample survey (N = 1,482) investigated the influence of factors identified in previous diffusion of innovation research on portable radiation detector adoption intention. Results indicated that nonfinancial incentives, as opposed to financial incentives, should be emphasized in persuasive communications aimed at fostering adoption. The research provides a new integration of diffusion of innovation elements with determinants of volitional behavior from persuasion literature, and offers recommendations on effective communication about new security technologies to motivate public adoption and enhance national safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Irina A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Iles
authors.affiliation: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Egnoto
authors.affiliation: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisher Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.|National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.affiliation: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
keywords: Attitudes; diffusion of innovation; intention formation; perceptions; safety