Learners’ continuance participation intention of collaborative group project in virtual learning environment: an extended TAM perspective

The aim of this study is to explore learners’ intention to return to the electronic environment through the use of wikipages. The survey is based on students’ participation in a collaborative group project over a one semester course on business information systems. A research model based on the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been proposed to investigate what factors will influence learners’ continuance participation in the electronic learning environment. 75% of students returned the questionnaire and the data analysis results based on the extended TAM Shows that the learners’ intention to return to the electronic learning environment was highly associated with their attitude towards the electronic learning tool and the affection associated with the tool

Critical review of the e-loyalty literature: a purchase-centred framework

Over the last few years, the concept of online loyalty has been examined extensively in the literature, and it remains a topic of constant inquiry for both academics and marketing managers. The tremendous development of the Internet for both marketing and e-commerce settings, in conjunction with the growing desire of consumers to purchase online, has promoted two main outcomes: (a) increasing numbers of Business-to-Customer companies running businesses online and (b) the development of a variety of different e-loyalty research models. However, current research lacks a systematic review of the literature that provides a general conceptual framework on e-loyalty, which would help managers to understand their customers better, to take advantage of industry-related factors, and to improve their service quality. The present study is an attempt to critically synthesize results from multiple empirical studies on e-loyalty. Our findings illustrate that 62 instruments for measuring e-loyalty are currently in use, influenced predominantly by Zeithaml et al. (J Marketing. 1996;60(2):31-46) and Oliver (1997; Satisfaction: a behavioral perspective on the consumer. New York: McGraw Hill). Additionally, we propose a new general conceptual framework, which leads to antecedents dividing e-loyalty on the basis of the action of purchase into pre-purchase, during-purchase and after-purchase factors. To conclude, a number of managerial implementations are suggested in order to help marketing managers increase their customers’ e-loyalty by making crucial changes in each purchase stage

Acceptance and adoption of the Internet of Things : user perspective

PhD ThesisThe Internet of Things promises a new technological paradigm that aims to connect anything and anyone at any time and any place, giving rise to a wide range of new services and applications. Such a grand vision will extend the scope of existing interactions between users and consumer electronics and bring about significant impacts on individuals and businesses. Enhancing user acceptance and adoption is one of the critical means of enlarging the business value of the Internet of Things. The objective of this doctoral work is to study the acceptance, adoption and use of pervasive technologies, as well as how predispositions based on an existing platform affect user attitudes toward its subsequent platform. This thesis consists of three empirical studies, each of which theoretically constructed and empirically tested a framework depicting users’ perceptions regarding technological paradigms, namely the Internet and the Internet of Things. Following the line of the Technology Acceptance Model, the first study started by exploring the antecedents and outcomes of Internet use from the psychological perspective. The second study conceptualised and tested the spillover effects of outcomes of Internet use into the user intention of the Internet of Things adoption. The third study incorporated and examined the perceived characteristics of innovation derived from Innovation Diffusion Theory, focusing on the user adoption of the Internet of Things. With data collected from 615 Internet users in the United States, structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. Three research models have been successfully put forward. Statistical results suggested that, first of all, psychological factors significantly affect user acceptance and the adoption of technological platforms, which in turn lead to many emotional outcomes. The relationships between user beliefs and psychological factors vary depending on personal attributes. Secondly, the outcomes of using the Internet spill over into the users’ acceptance of the Internet of Things, indicating that relevant technologies should not be considered separately. Lastly, in addition to the psychological factors, the characteristics of innovation influence the adoption intention of the Internet of Things. iv This thesis provided insights into the latest state of play in relation to acceptance and adoption of the Internet of Things from the user perspective. This research made three contributions to the existing body of knowledge about information systems and technology management studies. Firstly, it investigated the user interaction with technology in four phases, i.e. the motivations of use, technology acceptance, technology adoption, and outcomes of use. Then, this research elaborated the effects of psychological and emotional factors on user beliefs about technological platforms. Lastly, this thesis examined the spillover effect from the Internet to the Internet of Things, suggesting that the influence of relevant technologies should be taken into consideration in technology acceptance studies. IoT platform and technologies could enhance the “smartness” of future services, leveraging data collected by the context-aware objects, offering possibilities for service and product innovations for businesses. Also, given that the technologies arouse and are also affected by users’ emotions, businesses and policymakers should be concerned not only with technology affordance but also the psychological impact on users in order to maximise the benefits brought about by the Internet and Internet of Things. More specifically, through the diffusion of information technologies and the Internet in past decades, the users are seeking not only instrumental value but also the emotional value of new technology products and services. As such, the practitioners should take note of the target customers' attributes, preferences, and emotional responses toward relevant technologies in new product development and marketing strategies.David Goldman Doctoral Studentshi

Bullies in the Block Area: The Early Childhood Origins of Mean Behavior

Bullying can pose a serious threat to children's immediate and long-term health and well-being, and can have profound impacts on all children involved in bullying behaviors, whether as the one bullying others, the one being bullied, or the one witnessing bullying. At least some of the roots of bullying behaviors, and conversely the roots of positive pro-social skills, can likely be found in adverse and positive experiences during early childhood, yet the research literature on these connections is limited. The early childhood field lacks a coherent, theoretical model that identifies the factors contributing to "mean" or aggressive behavior in young children, and establishes the developmental link between this early behavior and later bullying behavior. This white paper summarizes the literature on seven key hypotheses about the roots of bullying behavior in early childhood experiences

An Examination of the Demographic Antecedents and Job Outcomes of Participation in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups formed in the workplace that focus on providing mutual support for members and that educate the organization about its members’ culture, identity, or experiences. The study’s purpose was to examine demographic antecedents and job outcomes associated with ERG participation. Specifically, this study examined gender identity and professional tenure as demographic antecedents of ERG participation and the relationship between ERG participation and employee outcomes, including job embeddedness and organizational commitment. Participants included 154 individuals employed at a technology company in the Northwestern United States who completed a survey regarding their personal characteristics and participation in ERGs as well as their commitment to and embeddedness within the organization. Results showed that female employees were more likely to become members of an ERG and to participate frequently. Additionally, frequent participation in ERG activities was associated with a stronger affective bond with the organization. Results also showed that professional tenure was not related to ERG membership or frequency of ERG participation. Finally, no relationship was found between frequent ERG participation and job embeddedness. Based on the findings of study, it is recommended that ERGs are properly funded and managed to allow for consistent participation by all employees and that organizations focus on intersectionality in their promotion of ERG events

Social Media Research in Hospitality and Tourism: A Causal Chain Framework of Literature Review

Purpose – The present study aims to conduct a systematic literature review to und erstand how current social media studies have adopted theories, used research constructs, and developed conceptual frameworks. Design – The current study examined 149 articles on social media published in the top eight hospitality and tourism journals between 2007 and 2017. Methodology – First, descriptive statistics were presented to show the status quo of theories and constructs used in social media-related articles. Second, three causal chain frameworks are developed based on the antecedent-moderator–mediator-outcome model. Findings – First, psychological theory is the predominant theory that has been applied to explain the behavior of social media users. Second, platform-related antecedents have been identified as the most prevalent antecedents. Third, consumer outcomes have attracted the most research interest. Fourth, only about half of the selected social media publications used moderators or mediators in their research models. Finally, there is a lack of cross-category causal relationships among the three causal chain frameworks. Originality – It is expected that the causal chain frameworks developed in this study will provide a research roadmap for academia as well as insights for the hospitality and tourism industry

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT AND CONTINUANCE

An important task in Information Systems research is to understand factors that influence the continuous use of information technology (IT). This study extends the literature by conceptualizing a construct called IT attachment to explain the phenomenon. Drawing upon the attachment theory in developmental and social psychology, it suggests that IT attachment, defined as an affective bond of the IT users to IT, is a determinant of the users’ satisfaction with IT and its continuance intention. Factors that influence the development of IT attachment are also analyzed, including IT confirmation, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and IT playfulness

The Influence of Shopping Website Design on Consumer’s Intention to Buy Online: The Case of 3D vs. 2D Online Book Stores

As increasing number of consumers take their business on-line, retailers try to gain competitive advantage through innovativedesign of their electronic storefronts. In the last few years, more and more three dimensional online stores (3D) have becomean alternative to the more traditional two dimensional ones (2D). The goal of this study is to examine the influence ofshopping website design (3D vs. 2D websites) on consumer’s intention to buy online. We draw from research in electroniccommerce, web-site design, technology acceptance and psychology, and propose a model that seeks to explain the influenceof online store front design on shopping outcomes through of such mediators as user perceptions and cognitive absorption.The proposed model offers useful insights to researchers and practitioners alike

Positive psychology, well-being, and mindfulness: a successful partnership towards the development of meaningful tourist experiences

Tourism is going through a very challenging phase due to the current pandemic situation. In this context, psychology and tourism are a successful partnership to develop meaningful experiences considering tourists' needs, desires, and expectations. This interconnection is observed through the application of positive psychology in the context of meaningful tourist experiences. This approach comprises adequate indicators to explore the tourism field from the perspective of individuals' well-being. Positive psychology, positive tourism, well-being, and mindfulness constitute the theoretical foundations of this article, which intends to understand how they are intertwined to fulfil one goal: developing meaningful tourist experiences. This article offers a theoretical reflection on the connections between the referred theoretical foundations. In so doing, it proposes a preliminary diagram illustrating the theoretical links observed in literature, which acts as a first step towards the design of a systematic literature review on the antecedents and outcomes of meaningful tourist experiences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio