The effect of power and gender on technology acceptance
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology
ISSN: 1757-9880
Article publication date: 14 October 2014
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the joint effect of power and gender on individuals’ perceptions and evaluations of information systems (IS), and their behavioral intentions of technology acceptance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a 2 (powerful vs powerless) × 2 (female vs male) between-subject experimental design. A total of 128 subjects participated in the experiment.
Findings
The results suggest that there is a significant gender difference in terms of technology acceptance in the high-power condition. Further, such a gender difference is attenuated in the low-power condition. Specifically, when primed with the feeling of powerful, male users (vs female users) have higher computer self-efficacy and rate the IS as easier to use and more enjoyable. However, when the feeling of powerless was elicited, the effect of gender on technology acceptance disappeared.
Originality/value
The gender effect on technology acceptance has been widely studied. The current research extends the literature by considering the moderating effect of power on such a gender effect.
Keywords
Citation
Zhang, L., Nyheim, P. and S. Mattila, A. (2014), "The effect of power and gender on technology acceptance", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 299-314. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-03-2014-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited