Recent literature on the diffusion of innovations concentrates either
specifically on public adoption of policy, where social or environmental
conditions are the dependent variables for adoption, or on private
adoption of an innovation, where emphasis is placed on the characteristics
of the innovation itself. This article uses both the policy diffusion
literature and the diffusion of innovation literature to assess watershed
management councils' decisions to adopt, or not adopt, scientific
models. Watershed management councils are a relevant case study because
they possess both public and private attributes. We report on a survey of
councils in the United States that was conducted to determine the criteria
used when selecting scientific models for studying watershed conditions.
We found that specific variables from each body of literature play a role
in explaining the choice to adopt scientific models by these quasi-public
organizations. The diffusion of innovation literature contributes to an
understanding of how organizations select models by confirming the
importance of a model's ability to provide better data. Variables
from the policy diffusion literature showed that watershed management
councils that employ consultants are more likely to use scientific models.
We found a gap between those who create scientific models and those who
use these models. We recommend shrinking this gap through more
communication between these actors and advancing the need for developers
to provide more technical assistance.