Abstract
This paper examines the applicability of innovation characteristics to marginalized populations. Drawing on studies that apply the diffusion model to drug-related behavior and HIV/AIDS prevention, we extend this line of inquiry to adults on probation, a marginalized group in the criminal legal context. Using interviews conducted after the introduction of the Probation and Reintegration Coach Application (PARCA)—a preventive innovation designed to support reintegration into society—we employed the Grounded Approach to analyze adoption decisions. Our findings show that all five diffusion innovation characteristics described by Rogers (1983) are relevant for marginalized groups, extending prior literature that has typically emphasized only the relative advantage of preventive innovations. Additionally, we found that personal needs and privacy concerns are important determinants influencing the diffusion of preventive innovations among marginalized users.
Recommended Citation
Kalayci, Asli; Garcia, Rosanna; Tulu, Bengisu; Smith, Lindsay; Jenkins, Steven; and Taxman, Faye, "Preventive Innovation in Marginalized Contexts: A Qualitative Examination of Diffusion Innovation Characteristics" (2025). NEAIS 2025 Proceedings. 9.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/neais2025/9
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