Everett Rogers biography and books

Article by: Vincent van Vliet

Last update: April 20, 2023

Everett Rogers (1931-2004) was a communication specialist, sociologist, writer and teacher. Everett Rogers is best known for his theory about the diffusion of innovations theory in which he introduced the term ‘early adopter’ or pioneer.

The biography of Everett Rogers

In addition to a Bachelor’s degree (BSc.) and a Master’s degree (MSc.) in agriculture, Everett Rogers also obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Iowa State. His sociology and statistics dissertation is about the resistance of farmers to use innovative techniques in agriculture.

After he had completed his dissertation, Everett Rogers continued to work on his findings and expanded his research by doing follow-up studies. He was an assistant professor at the Ohio University.

In 1962 Everett Rogers managed to publish his ground breaking book Diffusion of innovations (2003). Rogers, who was a 30-year old scientist and teacher at that time, gained considerable recognition and status with this publication.

Throughout the years, and after expanding his research, his work in communications and technology adoption studies increasingly gained wider acceptance. As a result of these developments, various books and articles were published.

From 1990 Everett Rogers turned his attention to the field of Entertainment Educations. In addition to evaluating a radio drama to improve public health in Tanzania, he wrote a book with Arvin Singhal entitled Entertainment Education: A Communication Strategy for Social Change.

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Around that time Rogers also established an annual award: “the Everett M. Rogers Award for Achievement in Entertainment-Education”, which recognizes outstanding practice or research performances in the field of Entertainment Education.

Publications and books

2003 / 1995 / 1983 / 1962. Diffusion of innovations. Free Press.
1999. Inter cultural communication. Prospect Heights, Waveland Press.
1994. A history of communication study: A biographical approach. Free Press.
1988 / 1972. Social change in rural societies. Englewood Cliffs. Prentice-Hall.
1986. Communication technology: The new media in society. Free Press.
1985. The media revolution in America and Western Europe. Ablex.
1984. Silicon Valley fever: Growth of high-technology culture. Basic Books.
1981. Communication networks: Toward a new paradigm for research. Free Press.
1976. Communication and development: Critical perspectives. Sage.
1976. New Product Adoption and Diffusion. Journal of Consumer Research, 2 (March), 290 -301.
1976. Communication in organizations. Free Press.
1973. Communication strategies for family planning. Free Press.
1969. Modernization among peasants: The impact of communication. Rinehart & Winston.
1960. Social change in rural society: A textbook in rural sociology. Appleton-Century-Crofts.

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Original publication date: 01/20/2012 | Last update: 04/20/2023

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Article by:

Vincent van Vliet

Vincent van Vliet is co-founder and responsible for the content and release management. Together with the team Vincent sets the strategy and manages the content planning, go-to-market, customer experience and corporate development aspects of the company.