3.12 Conceptual Framework of the Study
3.12.3 Research Hypotheses based on the Extended UTAUT Model
Based on the review of the original and extended UTAUT models, it appeared that a set of hypotheses which connect the different constructs could be proposed and tested. As seen in the preceding section, the proposed model for the research contains nine independent variables, two belief variables, and a single dependent variable. Moreover, of the nine independent variables, seven were grouped into two constructs based on their association with the individual and with the system in consideration. It may be noted that some of the hypotheses are related to the key constructs of the model, the remaining test the effect of the moderating variables on the independent variables.
3.12.3.1 Hypotheses related to the key constructs
Table 3.8 summarises the key constructs hypotheses which depict the direct relationships between the constructs in the extended UTAUT model (Figure 3.3):
Table 3.8 Key constructs hypotheses
Hypothesis Hypothesis Statement Associated Research Question
H1
Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention
This hypothesis is related to RQ2:
What are the key factors that influence international postgraduate students’
acceptance and usage of University
142 Hypothesis Hypothesis Statement Associated Research Question
Digital Libraries (UDL) and Google Scholar in universities at Manchester?
H2
System Features (Accessibility, Visibility and Relevance of the System) directly influence students’ Performance Expectancy
This hypothesis is related to RQ2: a) To what extent can individual differences and system features increase use of UDLs? b) To what extent can individual differences and system features increase use of Google Scholar?
H3
Individual Differences (Computer Self- Efficacy, Computer Experience, Domain Knowledge and Motivation) directly influences students’ Effort Expectancy
This hypothesis is related to RQ2: a) To what extent can individual differences and system features increase use of UDLs? b) To what extent can individual differences and system features increase use of Google Scholar?
H4
Performance Expectancy (PE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI).
H4a: Performance Expectancy (PE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use Google Scholar.
H4b: Performance Expectancy (PE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use the University Digital Library (UDL).
These hypotheses are related to RQ4:
What are the factors that affect the acceptance and use of University Digital Libraries (UDL) and Google scholar in universities at Manchester?
a. How effectively does a modified UTAUT model evaluate the use of UDLs by international post graduate students in universities at Manchester?
b. How effectively does a modified UTAUT model evaluate the use of Google Scholar by international post graduate students in universities at Manchester?
H5
Effort Expectancy (EE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI).
H5a: Effort Expectancy (EE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use Google Scholar.
H5b: Effort Expectancy (EE) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use the University Digital Library (UDL)
143 Hypothesis Hypothesis Statement Associated Research Question
H6
Social Influence (SI) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI).
H6a: Social Influence (SI) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use Google Scholar.
H6b: Social Influence (SI) directly influences students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use the University Digital Library (UDL).
H7
Facilitating Conditions (FC) directly influence students’ Behavioural Intention (BI).
H7a: Facilitating Conditions (FC) directly influence students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use Google Scholar.
H7b: Facilitating Conditions (FC) directly influence students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use the University Digital Library (UDL).
H8
System Features directly influence students’
Performance Expectancy (PE).
H8a: System Features directly influence students’ Performance Expectancy (PE) regarding Google Scholar.
H8b: System Features directly influence students’ Performance Expectancy (PE) regarding University Digital Library (UDL).
H9
Individual Differences directly influence students’ Effort Expectancy (PE).
H9a: Individual Differences directly influence students’ Effort Expectancy (PE) regarding Google Scholar.
H9b: Individual Differences directly influence students’ Effort Expectancy (PE) regarding University Digital Library (UDL).
144 It must be noted that although Hypotheses 2, 3, 8 and 9 appear to be similar, they will be assessed using different statistical tests.
One implicit hypothesis that will be assessed is that the behavioural intention to utilise Google Scholar or a UDL also directly and positively influence the usage behaviour associated with these systems (Venkatesh & Brown, 2001; Venkatesh et al., 2003).
3.12.3.2 Hypotheses with the moderating variables
As can be seen in Figure 3.3, the moderating variables included in this study are: Gender, Age, Educational Status, University of Study, and Preferred Tool for Information Search. Accordingly, the present study will investigate the impact of these moderators on the seven principal constructs, namely Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H10: Gender affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H10a: Gender affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of the University Digital Library (UDL) users.
H10b: Gender affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of Google Scholar users.
H11: Age affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H11a: Age affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of the University Digital Library (UDL) users.
145 H11b: Age affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of Google Scholar users.
H12: Educational Status affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H12a: Educational Status affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of the University Digital Library (UDL) users.
H12b: Educational Status affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of Google Scholar users.
H13: University of study affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H13a: University of study affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of the University Digital Library (UDL) users.
H13b: University of study affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of Google Scholar users.
H14: Preferred Tool for Information Search affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences.
H14a: Preferred Tool for Information Search affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort
146 Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of the University Digital Library (UDL) users.
H14b: Preferred Tool for Information Search affects students’ perceptions related to Behavioural Intention, Facilitating Conditions, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, System Features, and Individual Differences of Google Scholar users.
System Features
Accessibility
Visibility
Relevance
Individual Differences
Computer self-efficacy
Computer Experience
Domain Knowledge
Motivation
Moderating Influences
Gender Age Educational Status University
H16 – H19 H20 – H22
Effort Expectancy Performance Expectancy
Facilitating Conditions
Social Influence
Behaviour Intention
H4
H1
H2
H3 H12 H14
H15
H13 H5 – H7
H8 – H11
Figure 3.4 Research constructs used as hypotheses