Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior toEnd-User Training and Learning

In this paper, we used the theory of planned behavior as the premise to conduct a laboratory study to examine whether the beliefs and expected benefits of using a particular computer system can serve as motivational factors to improve training outcomes. Our results showed that while learning outcomes were not significantly improved, subjects left the training sessions with enhanced motivation to use the system

Visual Storytelling: Impact of Data visualization on citizens\u27 health behaviors

Although data visualization is gaining in popularity due to its ease of use and learning, and superiority of presenting data in a pleasing manner, healthcare sector has lagged behind other industries in the use of data visualization. In order to understand the appropriateness of data visualization technique, especially storytelling, in improving public health, it is necessary to empirically investigate whether and how this technique could help general public understand complex healthcare datasets and gain insights. In this study, we present a preliminary conceptual framework and our proposed research design to conduct this study. Specifically, we employ the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model as a framework, and Tableau storytelling features to undertake this investigation. By doing so, we will be able to further our understanding of data visualization with storytelling component, and of whether and how data visualization influence common citizens’ understanding about proper healthcare behaviors

Reducing Technostress through Workstation Designs

Technostress - stress that is caused by interacting with information technology (IT) devices- is becoming a serious health problem for individuals. The aim of the project is to investigate whether active workstations, such as standing and treadmill desks, and digital wearables that can monitor a user’s physiological signals, are helpful to alleviating technostress. Researchers identify events in our interactions with technology that generate technostress, such as interruptions through pop-up messages and computer slow response time. Due to the proliferation in technology usage, technostress and consequent health problems have increased in scope. Therefore, technostress requires immediate attention by researchers to develop methods to alleviate its adverse impact on health. High levels of stress directly impact a person’s health and is a demonstrated risk factor for anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as for diabetes and obesity.Our study investigates how active workstations can influence an individual’s affect and cognitive alertness in helping them cope with technostress. Affect underlies the individual’s emotional experiences and can be described as positive affect (e.g. enthusiasm) or negative affect (e.g. frustration). Decreasing negative affect and enhancing positive affect of an individual can help modulate the intensity of the stress experienced by that person. From our earlier studies, we find that body postures and movements impact individuals’ affect and their cognitive alertness, and therefore may be leveraged as stress moderators (Labonté-Lemoyne, Santhanam, et al. 2015). Hence, we propose that the use of active workstations will alleviate technostress.We plan to conduct a rigorous experiment with study participants who will be residents of the state of Oklahoma. Participants will use active workstations in conditions that can test our proposed ideas. We will record physiological signals and collect participants’ perceptual responses. Our analysis of this data will indicate effectiveness of proposed interventions of active workstations in alleviating technostress. Our research contributes to the emergent science on technostress suggesting methods to alleviate impact of stressors

The Influence of Usage Experience on Adoption of Successive ICT Products

When a new version of an information technology product or service appears in the market, consumers’ usage experience with the prior version may influence their adoption patterns. However, this important determinant has been ignored in current research. This study uses mobile services to examine the role of usage experience. We empirically test our hypotheses by using actual field data from China. We find that, in addition to perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment, usage experience with the prior version, that is the 2G service, has a significant influence on intentions to adopt the 3G service. Understanding the influence of usage experience is an important finding given that ICT vendors deliver successive versions of their products, and with this knowledge they could promote faster adoption and diffusion of new products. We discuss some practical implications, highlight factors that influence the adoption of newer generations of products, and delineate future research avenues

Empirical validation of knowledge-based systems for conceptual database design

Conceptual database design is a complex and difficult task for non-expert designers. However, many of the commonly committed errors can be prevented with a knowledge-based (KB) design support system. The interface to such a system can be programmed using one of two strategies: (1) restrictive strategy in which the user is forced to follow a specific problem solving path or (2) the guidance strategy in which the user is advised on possible next steps in the problem solving process. This study involves the development of two versions of a KB system – one with a restrictive interface and other with a guidance interface – and a control system that offers no KB help. In a lab experiment non-expert designers solved a difficult data modeling task using one of the three systems. Analysis of their performance indicates that the KB systems improve the users’ model accuracy. However, there was no significant difference in performance between the two KB system implementations. Subjects in the restrictive interface group rated their system as easier to use than the guidance interface group users

Revisiting the Role and Impact of Information Technology Capability

This study is a conceptual replication of Bharadwaj (2000) investigating the impact of IT capability on a firm’s financial performance. The original study demonstrated that firms with superior IT capability will deliver superior financial performance manifested by higher profit ratios and lower cost ratios. However, conflicting findings emerged regarding the relationship between IT capability and a firm’s financial performance (Chae et al., 2014). Furthermore, in the past decade, advancements in statistical analysis, such as panel data modeling techniques that were not used in these past studies have provided more robust analytical techniques to observe patterns over time. Hence, incorporating the conceptual foundations as in prior studies on IT capability (e.g., Bharadwaj, 2000; Santhanam & Hartono, 2003), we re-investigate the impact of IT capability on a firm’s financial performance but do so by using a large longitudinal dataset and leveraging the power of panel data analysis. Our findings are consistent with the results of Bharadwaj (2000), Santhanam and Hartono (2003), and Choi and George (2016), suggesting that IT capability has a significant positive impact on financial performance. Our results do not support the findings of Chae et al. (2014), who found no association between IT capability and financial performance. We discuss the implications of our findings for the continued use of the theoretical framework of IT capability derived from the resource-based view

The Effects of Ambiguity Tolerance and User Discretion on Spatial Task Performance and Display Choices

Recent improvements in information technologies have led to the creation and advancement of numerous interfaces or visual displays. However, not all innovations in visual representations optimize their users’ decisional performance. This research examines whether granting users discretion improves their decisional accuracy and expedites their decision making, as well as reduces their stress and mental workload. In addition, the current study utilizes an extensive, relatively stable construct in cognitive psychology – ambiguity tolerance – to represent individuals’ openness to complexities and investigates the impacts on those decisional outcomes. The mixed results yield implications for future studies

Visual Presentation Modes in Online Product Reviews and Their Effects on Consumer Responses

Online product reviews posted by consumers are becoming a staple part of e-commerce websites. Researchers demonstrate that the volume and strength of online reviews, among others, have a significant impact on consumer responses. These studies have focused on the effect of text-based online reviews, but current information technologies enable the posting of online reviews with higher visual content, such as with images and videos. Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Dual Coding theory, we examine the effects of three visual modes for presenting online reviews with three products – backpack, digital camera and video game. Our results indicate that video-based online reviews are perceived as being more credible, helpful, persuasive, and providing a great sense of involvement, compared to text-based and image-based online reviews, but with no significant differences among the latter two. The influence of presentation modes on consumer responses is partially moderated by product type