Jared Gars|Patrick S. Ward
Can differences in individual learning explain patterns of technology adoption? Evidence on heterogeneous learning patterns and hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India
Organisation For Economic Co-Operation and Development|Duke Kunshan University
much empirical research shown individuals decision adopt new technology result learning personal experimentation well observing experimentation others yet even casual observation would suggest significant heterogeneity learning processes manifesting widely varying patterns adoption space time paper explore heterogeneity context early adoption hybrid rice rural india using speciallydesigned experiments conducted part primary survey field able identify four broad learning heuristics accurately reflects individuals information processing strategies linking learning heuristics observed use rice hybrids demonstrate pure bayesian learning well suited tinkering marginal adjustments would required learn technology like hybrid rice also cognitively taxing requiring longer memory complex updating processes consequently 25 percent farmers sample characterized pure bayesian learners presentbiased learning relying first impressions likely hinder adoption technology like hybrid rice even controlling access credit rudimentary proxy intelligence