Question

When faced with the prospect of change, the nurse states, We have always done it this way and never had any problems. A few weeks later, the same nurse remarks, This new way seems to work better than the old way did. This statement is characteristic of which type of change response?

1. Laggards

2. Early adopters

3. Early majority

4. Innovators

Answer 1

The nurse's statements reflect an 'Early Majority' response to change, indicating initial resistance followed by acceptance once evidence of effectiveness is apparent, aligning with Everett Rogers' Technology Adoption Lifecycle model.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement made by the nurse is characteristic of an Early Majority type of change response within the Technology Adoption Lifecycle. Initially, the nurse was reluctant, stating, We have always done it this way, which is a common resistance sentiment at the start. However, the subsequent acknowledgement, This new way seems to work better than the old way did, reflects a shift to accepting and adapting to change, a hallmark behavior of the 'Early Majority' group, who may not be the first to embrace changes but are open to adopting new methods once they've seen some evidence of effectiveness.

This concept is a part of social theories on how technological and cultural innovations spread and are adopted within a society, as described by sociologists like Everett Rogers. Initially there may be skepticism, but with time and evidence of tangible benefits, acceptance grows—not instantly but rather through a gradual process, often following the innovators and early adopters.