An investigation of user communication behavior in computer mediated environments

Computer Mediated Environments (CMEs) allow people to communicate and interact electronically, either synchronously or asynchronously, their key characteristic being online interactivity. This study attempts to provide a better understanding of communication behavior in CMEs, the study objective being to investigate the effects of the level of interactivity on web users' attitudes and intentions towards the use of online communication tools. It tests constructs based on system characteristics (interactivity), extrinsic motivation (the Technology acceptance model), and intrinsic motivation (Flow theory) in an integrated theoretical framework for online communication behavior. This study demonstrates the development of a reliable and valid measure to capture several critical constructs in order to understand online communication behavior. Questionnaires were placed on the website for voluntary participants who use online communication tools to complete. The statistical results revealed that attitude and behavioral intention are directly affected by users' internal and external motivation, and are indirectly affected by interactivity through the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and flow experience. This shows that interactivity is an important element of web-based information technology for absorbing users, and is not only mediated by task-oriented (external) motivation but also entertainment-oriented (internal) motivation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.