Determinants of user acceptance of digital libraries: An empirical examination of individual differences and system characteristics

被引:405
作者
Hong, W [1 ]
Thong, JYL
Wong, WM
Tam, KY
机构
[1] Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Informat & Syst Management, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
[2] Open Univ Hong Kong, OUHK, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
关键词
computer self-efficacy; digital libraries; individual differences; information technology acceptance; technology acceptance model;
D O I
10.1080/07421222.2002.11045692
中图分类号
TP [自动化技术、计算机技术];
学科分类号
0812 ;
摘要
The explosion in Internet usage and huge government funding initiatives in digital libraries have drawn attention to research on digital libraries. Whereas the traditional focus of digital library research has been on the technological development. there is now a call for user-focused research. Although millions of dollars have been spent on building "usable" systems, research on digital libraries has shown that potential users may not use the systems in spite of their availability. There is a need for research to identify the factors that determine users' adoption of digital libraries. Using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as a theoretical framework, this study investigates the effect of a set of individual differences (computer self-efficacy and knowledge of search domain) and system characteristics (relevance, terminology, and screen design) on intention to use digital libraries. Based on a sample of 585 users of a university's award-winning digital library, the results strongly support the utilization of TAM in predicting users' intention to adopt digital libraries, and demonstrate the effects of critical external variables on behavior intention through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. All of the individual differences and system characteristics have significant effects on perceived ease of use of digital libraries. In addition, relevance has the strongest effect on perceived usefulness of digital libraries.
引用
收藏
页码:97 / 124
页数:28
相关论文
共 103 条
[1]   Strategic directions in electronic commerce and digital libraries: Towards a digital agora [J].
Adam, N ;
Yesha, Y .
ACM COMPUTING SURVEYS, 1996, 28 (04) :818-835
[2]   SI in digital libraries [J].
Adam, NR ;
Atluri, V ;
Adiwijaya, I .
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM, 2000, 43 (06) :64-72
[3]   PERCEIVED USEFULNESS, EASE OF USE, AND USAGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - A REPLICATION [J].
ADAMS, DA ;
NELSON, RR ;
TODD, PA .
MIS QUARTERLY, 1992, 16 (02) :227-247
[4]   Research report: The evolving relationship between general and specific computer self-efficacy - An empirical assessment [J].
Agarwal, R ;
Sambamurthy, V ;
Stair, RM .
INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH, 2000, 11 (04) :418-430
[5]   Are individual differences germane to the acceptance of new information technologies? [J].
Agarwal, R ;
Prasad, J .
DECISION SCIENCES, 1999, 30 (02) :361-391
[6]  
Ajzen I., 1985, Action-control: From Cognition to Behavior, P11
[7]   INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN ACADEMIC-LIBRARIES - A USER SURVEY [J].
ALLEN, MB .
COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES, 1993, 54 (04) :323-333
[8]   Rights management and security in the electronic library [J].
Anderson, LC ;
Lotspiech, JB .
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE, 1995, 22 (01) :21-23
[9]  
[Anonymous], 1994, Usability Testing and System Evaluation: A Guide for Designing Useful Computer Systems
[10]  
[Anonymous], 1991, Information Systems Research