Toward a Model of Mindfulness in Technology Acceptance

1. Toward a Model of Mindfulness in Technology Acceptance Table of Contents • Introduction • Motivation & Theory • Research Model • Research Methods • Data Analysis and Results • Discussion Heshan SUN School of Information Resources and Library Science University of Arizona Yulin FANG Department of Information Systems City University of Hong Kong March 9th, 2011

2. Introduction Current Situation • Technology acceptance is a popular topic. • Information technologies are essentially complex innovations and, accordingly, people are often uncertain about accepting them. • As a result of uncertainty, people may make the ‘wrong’ decision and accept technically inferior or ill-fitting innovations (Abrahamson 1991). • Developing a research model to explain user acceptance of technology under the situation of complexity and uncertainty, by drawing upon the theory of Mindfulness. • By studying mindfulness, we can help answer such questions as why technically inferior information systems are accepted and how people can employ mindfulness to resolve uncertainty in the technology acceptance process. Our approach to address the issue:

3. Motivation Why Uncertainty • Contemporary research has held an “efficient-choice” assumption that people always have easy access to needed information to form their beliefs and intentions to use (Abrahamson 1991). • Although some research (e.g., Bhattacherjee 2001; Kim 2009) has studied how users update their initial beliefs about a technology after adoption, the informational aspect of initial technology acceptance has rarely been addressed. • People do not have all the information about a technology and may be uncertain about accepting the technology being considered. • As a result of this uncertainty, people may make the ‘wrong’ decision and accept technically inferior or ill-fitting innovations (Abrahamson 1991).

4. Motivation Why Mindfulness Theory • Mindfulness is a state of alertness and lively awareness (Langer 1986; Langer 1989b). In overcoming the uncertainties resulting from lack of information, an important factor is one’s mindfulness. • We can help answer why technically inferior information systems are accepted and how people can employ mindfulness to resolve uncertainty in the technology acceptance process.

5. Theory- Mindfulness A state of mindfulness is revealed by active information seeking and processing, constant creation of new categories, awareness of local specifics, and openness to multiple perspectives(Langer 1989a;Langer 1997) - Active information seeking and processing one recognizes informational cues and actively considers them (Langer 1989a). - Constant creation of new categories a mindful person is aware of the nuanced differences between the task at hand with those he/she has been familiar with in the past (Weick et al. 1999). - Awareness of local specifics “the identification of needs, conflicts, and existential concerns” (Brown and Ryan 2003 p.822). - Openness to multiple perspectives A person is more likely to consider a wider range of consequences of a decision, e.g., both the pros and cons of it.

6. Figure 1. Proposed Dimensions of Mindfulness in Technology Acceptance Theory- Mindfulness in Technology Acceptance (MTA) Mindfulness has been studied in prior research as a personal trait(Kohls et al. 2009)or as a state factor(Langer 1989a).We define MTA as a state of being.

7. Examples of MTA • Scenario 1 (Mindful acceptance): I recently purchased an iPad. At first, I was uncertain about what an iPad was or how I could benefit from it. I figured the iPad was either a smaller, less powerful laptop or a just a larger iPod. I did some research on it, however, reading articles and expert reviews about the iPad as well as opinions from other users. By this time I was much certain what it could do and I knew it could meet my needs: the iPad is functionally different from a laptop and can satisfy my needs for a more mobile device for simple tasks such as checking email and reading e-books. Its battery of 10-hour life is very useful for a frequent traveler like me. In addition, I knew clearly that I could handle it. So I use it. • Scenario 2 (Mindless acceptance): I did not know much about iPad when I first heard of it. It seems to be just a smaller laptop. I was not sure what it was and what it could do for me. Based on my very limited knowledge about it, iPad did not seem to be useful for me at all. So why should I use it?

8. Uncertainty • Milliken (1987) identified three types of uncertainty. This research defines uncertainty of technology acceptance as follows.

9. Complexity • Complexity is defined as the degree to which an information system is perceived as difficult to learn and use(Thompson et al. 1991). • Such a lack of comprehensible information about a technology makes one feel more uncertain about the acceptance decision (Akerlof 1970; Spence 1973; Stiglitz 1975).

10. Figure 2. The Research Model ResearchModel

11. Research Methods • Research Context：Acceptance of PBwiki (http://pbworks.com/) A wiki system allows users to work on the same web pages as a collective project—these systems have great potential for use in information systems research and for IS practitioners (Kane and Fichman 2009). • Data Collection：online questionnaire • Sample： • 723 randomly selected people who voluntarily registered with StudyResponse. They were in three occupational categories: banking, finance, and management. • The data used in this research was collected using a single method at a single point in time. • 160 valid responses • Demographic characteristics of the sampleTable2

12. Measures

13. Items for Mindfulness and Uncertainty Mindfulness: • MF1 (creation of new category): PBwiki seems to be different from any technologies that I had used before. • MF2 (active information searching): I looked for additional information about PBwiki from sources other than its own website. • MF3 (openness to multiple perspectives): I know of alternatives to PBwiki. • MF4 (awareness of own needs): I know clearly how PBwiki matches my specific needs. • MF5 (creation of new category): PBwiki is a new type of technology for me. Uncertainty • UN1 (state uncertainty): I have NOT recognized what PBwiki is about. • UN2 (effect uncertainty): My needs for collaboration can NOT be resolved by using PBwiki. • UN3 (response uncertainty): I do NOT think that I am able to respond appropriately to any changes/updates of PBwiki.

14. Figure 3. PLS Results of the Proposed Research Model Data Analysis and Results （1） • Data analysis tool – PLS (Partial Least Square)

15. Data Analysis and Results（2） • Mediation - A partial mediating effect of perceived usefulness (PU) on the relationship between mindfulness and intention to use. • When PU is excluded, mindfulness has a significant overall effect on intention to use (b=0.486, t=6.995, p<0.001). When PU is introduced, mindfulness still demonstrates a significant direct effect on intention to use (b=0.203, t=3.583, p<0.001). The indirect effect of mindfulness on intention to use is 0.285 with a 95% BC bootstrap Confidence Interval (CI) of 0.133 and 0.414.

16. Discussion • We developed the constructs of mindfulness and uncertainty in the context of user technology acceptance. • First, mindfulness was confirmed to reduce uncertainty about the acceptance of a technology and to significantly influence the formation of user beliefs about a technology and their intention to use it. • Second, mindfulness has a direct influence on one’s intention to use, beyond its indirect impact via user beliefs. • Third, Hypothesis 4 about the impact of mindfulness on the complexity of technology was not confirmed; Mindfulness does not reduce people’s perception of the complexity of PBwiki. • PBwiki is not a very complex system and using it is relatively simple and straightforward.

17. Limitation • First, the sample size was relatively small. • Second, the use of PBwiki as the research technology may have limited our understanding of the research model. • Third, the organizational context was not effectively controlled. • The invitees for the survey were from multiple organizations; therefore organizational factors could have had an effect on the factors in the research model.

18. Contribution • Conceptually, this research systematically developed two concepts: mindfulness in technology acceptance and uncertainty of technology acceptance. • Theoretically, this paper develops a research model of mindfulness in technology acceptance. • Describes how mindful behavior influences user technology acceptance by reducing uncertainty about the adoption decision, enhancing one’s beliefs about the usefulness of the technology, and directly affecting one’s intention to use. • Methodologically, this research systematically developed instruments for measuring mindfulness and uncertainty in technology acceptance.

19. Research Implications • Mindfulness plays an important role in alleviating uncertainties in technology acceptance. Studying uncertainty in technology acceptance helps us explicitly deal with the efficient-choice problem. • Information economics—dealing with such topics as information asymmetry and transparency(e.g., Akerlof 1970),signaling(e.g., Spence 1973),and screening(e.g., Stiglitz 1975)—may be valuable for IS researchwhen studying technology acceptance. • Mindfulness may help in overcoming bandwagon behavior • This research also has implications for studying habitual/automatic system use.

20. Practical Implications • IT practitioners can focus on four things to help users make a mindful decision. - Lead users to relevant, updated, and well-formatted information. - Explicitly discuss with users how the technology being introduced differs from those already being used. - Present how this technology can be used for different units and/or different types of tasks. - Remind users of both the pros and cons of this system, as well as other alternatives. • For technology users, our results shows the benefits of being mindful in accepting a technology. • Actively collecting and processing information about a technology, comparing it with existing technologies, being aware of the local contexts, and being open to alternative perspectives regarding the technology being accepted can reduce the uncertainty one may face when accepting this technology.

21. Thank you! • Questions/Comments?

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