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An empirical study on determinants of web based question‐answer services adoption

Shengli Deng (Center for study of Information Resources, School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China)
Yong Liu (IAMSR, TUCS, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland)
Yuanyuan Qi (Center for study of Information Resources, School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China)

Online Information Review

ISSN: 1468-4527

Article publication date: 27 September 2011

1395

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the driving factors of web based question‐answer services (WBQAS) adoption. As an emerging knowledge acquisition method and service there are currently few studies addressing the antecedents of the service's acceptance, in particular concerning Chinese users.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology as its theoretical background and applies it to the field of WBQAS. A survey was conducted.

Findings

Based on 169 useful questionnaires the results show that both performance expectancy and effort expectancy are significant predictors of the intention to use WBQAS. Additionally behavioural intention, together with facilitating intention, significantly influences the actual use of WBQAS. Social influence has no significant impact on the intention to use the service.

Originality/value

As research on WBQAS is in its infancy this paper is among the first in the field, in particular regarding Chinese users. In addition the research applied the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model to the context of WBQAS and validated the adoption model using structural equation modelling.

Keywords

Citation

Deng, S., Liu, Y. and Qi, Y. (2011), "An empirical study on determinants of web based question‐answer services adoption", Online Information Review, Vol. 35 No. 5, pp. 789-798. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684521111176507

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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