Information technology adoption behavior life cycle: Toward a Technology Continuance Theory (TCT)

For over a decade, researchers have devoted much effort to construct theoretical models, such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) for explaining and predicting user behavior in IS acceptance and continuance. Another model, the Cognitive Model (COG), was proposed for continuance behavior; it combines some of the variables used in both TAM and ECM. This study applied the technique of structured equation modeling with multiple group analysis to compare the TAM, ECM, and COG models. Results indicate that TAM, ECM, and COG have quite different assumptions about the underlying constructs that dictate user behavior and thus have different explanatory powers. The six constructs in the three models were synthesized to propose a new Technology Continuance Theory (TCT). A major contribution of TCT is that it combines two central constructs: attitude and satisfaction into one continuance model, and has applicability for users at different stages of the adoption life cycle, i.e., initial, short-term and long-term users. The TCT represents a substantial improvement over the TAM, ECM and COG models in terms of both breadth of applicability and explanatory power.