Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Each of the five adopter categories defined by Rogers possesses a distinct socio-behavioral profile, summarized by a single dominant personality attribute.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us match each adopter category with its dominant attribute as defined in the literature:
- (A) Innovator: Their dominant attribute is (III) Venturesome. They are eager to try new ideas, willing to accept risks, and have cosmopolite social relationships.
- (B) Early adopter: Their dominant attribute is (I) Respectable. They are integrated into the local social system and serve as respected opinion leaders and role models.
- (C) Early majority: Their dominant attribute is (IV) Deliberate. They adopt new ideas just before the average member, carefully deliberating before making a final decision.
- (D) Laggards: Their dominant attribute is (II) Traditional. They are oriented toward the past, highly suspicious of innovations, and are the last to adopt.
This gives the matched sequence:
\[ \text{(A) - (III), (B) - (I), (C) - (IV), (D) - (II)} \]
Step 2: Final Answer:
The correct matching sequence corresponds to Option (C).