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MIS research has paid increasing attention to the influence of individual traits and proximal states, particularly computer self-efficacy (CSE), on technology use. CSE can be influenced through two major perspectives: as a malleable set of beliefs that can be manipulated (proximal states); and as a dispositional, individual difference quality that guides behavior (distal traits) (Agarwal et al., 2000). Prior research has shown that proximal states are important mechanisms through which distal states relate to IT usage (Agarwal & Karahanna, 2000; Agarwal et al., 2000; Chen et al., 2000; Thatcher et al., 2007; Thatcher and Perrewe, 2002). Examples from oft-cited literature include Agarwal and Prasad (1998a), who found that personal innovativeness with IT (PIIT) moderates the relationship from compatibility to intentions toward technology use, and Thatcher and Perrewe (2002) who found that trait anxiety positively relates to computer anxiety and general computer self-efficacy.
This research introduces individual distal traits to the model to investigate their impact on the proximal states of computer anxiety and specific computer self-efficacy. By investigating the specific context for technology use (Agarwal et al., 2000), and individual user traits’ impact on CSE (McElroy et al., 2007), these findings’ primary contribution will be to provide insight into how individuals form beliefs about IT competency and into designing interventions that foster IT use for increased business value. We developed our research model using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) (Figure 1), extending Social Cognitive Theory and its application to IT usage by including additional distal traits and proximal states that are hypothesized to have an influence on computer self-efficacy. We examine directly how social aversion (SA) and institution-based trust (TRIT), enduring distal traits, influence the proximal states of computer self-efficacy (CSE) in both the general and specific context and computer anxiety (CA), as well as the traits’ relationships to perceived ease of use (PEOU) and usefulness (PU) of IT. By making and testing these theoretical connections, we contribute to the literature by showing their significance within the nomological network leading to IT use.
Figure 1. Proposed research model (Trust in Technology refers to Institution-based Trust in Technology)
Beyond this primary contribution, we also seek to contribute to the literature in two other ways. First, we heed a call in the MIS literature to further examine the variable of institution-based trust. As discussed in Gefen, Pavlou, Benbasat, McKnight, Stewart, and Straub (2006), “IS research on institutional trust is sparse” (p. 3). Their work aims to motivate interest in examining this variable, given its important role in furthering our understanding of IT use. In this study, we explain how institution-based trust (as a component of trust in technology) theoretically relates to the other model variables, test for its significance, and discuss the importance of the findings with respect to its influence on CSE. Second, we address a call in the IT literature to further investigate computer anxiety (CA) (Brown et al., 2004), specifically to further understand how it operates theoretically in conjunction with CSE and other variables in the nomological network (Fagan et al., 2004).
The paper unfolds as follows. First, we develop our proposed research model and present the hypothesized relationships. Next, we conduct empirical tests for the influence of SA and TRIT on general and specific beliefs about IT. To conclude, the implications of our findings and avenues for future research are discussed, as well as the limitations of our research.