The adoption of internet shopping for travel services

The study explores consumers' adoption of Internet shopping in the context of UK travel services. The key objective is to identify the profile of Internet shoppers and the antecedents of Internet shopping adoption for travel services. The study proposes a model for the prediction of Internet shopping adoption, drawing upon Davis' (1989) Technology Acceptance Model with the inclusion of individual characteristics, perceived risk and trust. The model identifies the structural relationships among the eight constructs (i.e. perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use, innovativeness, involvement, opinion leadership, perceived risk, trust and adoption), which were examined through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with AMOS. The study employs a multi-methodology approach, which involves focus group discussions at the exploratory stage and a questionnaire survey in the data collection stage. The final survey was of a screened sample of 500 respondents who had purchased travel services online. A total of 299 qualified respondents from all over the UK completed the online survey. The descriptive results present a profile of travel e-shoppers in terms of demographic, geodemographic and buying patterns. The SEM tested the hypothesised relationships among the constructs, as postulated in the model. Nine of the hypothesised links were supported and six were rejected. Eventually, a robust model that has statistical and explanatory power was confirmed. The results explicitly clarified several key contributions to marketing theory and for the travel and tourism industry. For example, it was demonstrated that perceived usefulness is the key determinant of Internet shopping adoption decisions. Also, consumer innovativeness is the key influence on Internet shopping adoption at the personal level, followed by consumer involvement in the shopping process. The study also reveals three new relationships, between opinion leadership and perceived ease-of-use, consumer involvement and ease-of-use and consumer innovativeness and trust, which have not been examined empirically by previous research. By identifying the primary drivers of Internet shopping adoption for travel services, the study contributes to and extends the understanding of the Internet as a medium for commercial use in the B2C arena as well as expanding the literature on new technology adoption

Improving literature searching in systematic reviews: the application of tailored literature searching compared to ‘the conventional approach’

Background Literature searching is acknowledged as a crucial step in a systematic review. Information professionals, in response to the needs of intervention effectiveness systematic reviews, have developed a systematic process of literature searching which aims to be comprehensive, transparent and reproducible, and to minimise the introduction of bias in systematic reviews. The process which has evolved has not been examined in detail before but it has been adopted as the principal approach to literature searching in other types of systematic review. It is not clear if this is appropriate and if an alternative approach might be more effective. Thesis aims The aims of this thesis are to: 1) examine approaches to systematic literature searching for systematic reviews; and 2) propose and test a method of systematic literature searching for reviews which do not focus on the effectiveness of clinical interventions. Methods Two literature reviews, one systematic review and two comparative case studies were undertaken to meet the aims of the thesis. Results A critical literature review identified and described a conventional approach to literature searching common to nine leading handbooks of systematic review. An alternative, tailored approach to literature searching was developed. Two case studies illustrated that the tailored approach was more effective, and potentially offered better value, than the conventional approach. Conclusions Information professionals can develop tailored literature search approaches for use in systematic reviews and as a useful alternative to the conventional approach, particularly for reviews including study designs beyond controlled trials. The role of the information professional as decision maker, the involvement of the research team and experts, preparing for literature searching and the use of supplementary search methods, are important to the success of tailored literature search approaches

Older adults, e-inclusion and access to ICT-based care

Background: Information communication technology (ICT) such as the Internet, mobile phones, computers and tablets, has become a central part of daily life. However a large number of older people do not use ICT, putting them at risk of exclusion from the digital society. Aims: To investigate level to which older people or are “e-included” (or engage with ICT) across various contexts, the factors which influence their e-inclusion and their access to ICT-based care, and the effects of ICT-use on their quality of life. Methods: Using a mixed method approach, I collected both secondary and primary data from numerous different sources including national datasets, the MonAMI project, the relevant literature, and interviews with older adults and technical experts. Analysis: Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed according to the dimensions of the 6C framework for e-inclusion. The effects of ICT use was assessed against the domains of the ASCOT and WHOQOL models of quality of life. Results: Older people’s e-inclusion and access to ICT-based care were affected by a number of person-centred and environmental factors. There were marked variances in level of e-inclusion with the older population, which was partly attributed to a cohort effect. The evidence showed that access to ICT-based care was affected by local eligibility policies and care practitioner endorsement. Analyses revealed that ICT use positively affected older people’s quality of life in terms of maintaining independence and social networks, and improving psychological wellbeing. However, ICT-use had negative effects on older people’s sense of privacy. Moreover, ICT-based care services proved to be obtrusive and stigmatising for many older people. Conclusion: The findings highlighted a paucity in targeted policies which consider older people’s specific digital interests. There is also a need for a better understanding of the effects of ICT-based care on older people’s quality of life