Dissertation Information for Elfreda Annmary Chatman NAME: - Elfreda Annmary Chatman
- (Alias) Elfreda Chatman - (Alias) Elfreda A. Chatman
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- University of California, Berkeley (USA) (1983)
ADVISORS: - Patrick Wilson
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Raynard C. Swank - Raymond Edward Miles
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: THE DIFFUSION OF INFORMATION AMONG THE WORKING POOR
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the applicability of diffusion theory to the use of ordinary information in a poverty environment. The inquiry included an investigation of sources of information within the everyday reach of the poor.
The research methods were field research and interviewing. Respondents were fifty women who were heads of household and were enrolled in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program at the time the study was conducted.
The research was guided by diffusion theory, which addresses the spread of new things, practices and ideas. For the theory to apply specifically to the diffusion of ordinary information, several modifications seem necessary; some proposals were made, especially regarding the attributes of innovations.
The study investigated the existence of opinion leaders in a poverty environment and the role they played as disseminators of new information. As predicted, opinion leaders were found in this environment. They exhibited familiar characteristics of opinion leadership, including greater social participation, gregariousness, greater exposure to the mass media, and being more cosmopolitan. However, they were not found to be sources for others of one crucial sort of scarce and valuable information, job information.
Mass media use by the poor was also examined. A review of the literature revealed characterization of the poor as high consumers of television and low users of print. This study, however, did not support the conclusion that the poor are heavy users of television. The population studied in this research was found to be relatively highly educated, concerned about activities and events beyond their social world, and high consumers of print. The inconsistency of this finding with previous research of mass media use and the poor can be partially attributed to some unique characteristics of this population (e.g., level of education, place of residence) which might not be typical of other populations studied.
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MPACT Scores for Elfreda Annmary Chatman A = 5
C = 5
A+C = 10
T = 5
G = 1
W = 5
TD = 5
TA = 0
calculated 2008-05-21 10:04:25
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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