Background Information on DISim

DISim is a program that simulates Diffusion of Innovation models.

Currently at version 0.1, it replicates the experiments and results in [AR1997].

1997 Innovation Adoption Network Threshold Model

Refer to [AR1997] for full model details.

Original Threshold Model

The original threshold model did not take into account network structure. Information creating the bandwagon pressure was global; each agent had the same amount of information.

B_i,k = I_i + (A_i * P_{k-1})

B_{i,k} is potential adopter i’s “bandwagon assessment” of the innovation in cycle k

I_i is potential adopter i‘s individual assessment of the innovation’s profitability (given that it knows about the innovation?)

A_i * P_{k-1} is the bandwagon pressure

P_{k-1} is the information that creates bandwagon pressure after k-1 cycles

In fad models, P_{k-1} is the proportion of adopters in a collectivity after cycle k-1 (from 1993 model [AR1993]). This is measured as the number of adopters in the population divided by the total population.

In learning models, P_{k-1} is information about profitability; the average of information across all adopters.

A_i is the weight given to the information in P_{k-1}; how much bandwagon pressure effects agent i. The higher the ambiguity of assessment, the more the agent is influenced by bandwagon pressure (relies on it).

If B_{i,k} is evaluated >0, then adopt.

Modified Network Model

The 1997 modified network model does take into account network structure. In this model, profitability assessment happens on a per-agent basis and the information creating bandwagon pressure is evaluated based on the neighbors of a given agent in the network who have adopted the innovation.

P_{k-1} replaced with P_{i,k-1}

P_{i,k-1} is the number of neighbors who have adopted / total population

Max bandwagon pressure becomes # neighbors / total population

“We assume that assessed returns are normally distributed...” (p. 297).

Trickle-down diffusion (focal to non-focal)
Initiate by choosing 1 adopter in the focal stratum (core)
Trickle-up diffusion (non-focal to focal)
1 adopter in the non-focal stratum (periphery)

“Other than the seed, for any potential adopter to adopt, it had to find out information about the innovation through the network (i.e., communicate with an adopter), and it had to find the innovation adoptable as a result of finding out this information (i.e., positive Bi, k).” ([AR1997] pp 297)

1999 Network Model Adaptation

Refer to [RA1999] for full model details.

(1)B_i,k = I_i * (A * \sum(r_i * D_{i,k-1})) + \left((1-A) *
        \frac{\sum(p_i * D_{i,k-L-1})}{n_k-L-1}\right)

0 \leq A \leq 1

p_i = actual profits achieved by organization i

L = # cycles required to transmit profitability information (lag)

“Initial assessed profits and achieved profits are independently drawn from the same normal distribution” ([RA1999] p. 368)

Note

This model and simulation is not complete in the current implementation.