Page 198 - JOURNAL OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN CHINA 2015 Vol. 41

Ge SONG / The diffusion process of academic innovation 197

diffusion. The recent emergences of vertexes may identify the future direction.
5) Studying the information interaction pattern of the innovation diffusion. We can capture the
information exchange network at a certain moment to see the innovation achievements diffusing
in different areas. Then, measuring the diffusion strength and direction, determining the diffusion
center and the edge, analyzing the internal information interactive mode within the center part, and
between the center and the edge. Combination with the time flow analysis in the fourth step, we
can finally summarize the information interaction process of the academic innovation diffusion.

5 Prospects

This paper has explored and summarized only the general methods and steps of the process of the
academic innovation diffusion. In fact, a lot of specific works could be launched around the topic
of diffusion process. For example, the academic innovation diffusion is caused by the innovation
and diffusion, and they usually occur simultaneously. Therefore, the in-depth study on the re-
innovation and the re-diffusion in innovation diffusion process can explore the occurrence and
the development mechanism of the academic innovation diffusion. Again, another example could
be the first adopter’s position in the network as well as the adoption time of the opinion leaders,
both of them will affect the diffusion rate. Further study on these topics will yield a clearer
understanding of the diffusion process and stages of the evolution. In addition, the individual
innovative can be measured by its performance in the process of innovation diffusion. To sum up,
from the perspective of the knowledge diffusion process, the history of the academic development
can be restored to provide a reliable basis for the academic studies and the scientific research
management.

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