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technology since they quite simply enjoy the process and do not perceive it as requiring effort
compared to those who are less playful (Venkatesh, 2000).
It is noteworthy that a recent study indicates the possible full mediating effect of perceived
enjoyment between computer playfulness and perceived ease of use (Sun and Zhang, 2004).
Computer playfulness has a significant effect on perceived ease of use. However, when perceived
enjoyment is introduced as a mediator between computer playfulness and perceived ease of use,
the relationship between computer playfulness and perceived ease of use becomes non-significant,
and the relationship between computer playfulness and perceived enjoyment and that between
perceived enjoyment and ease of use are significant. This result indicates a mediating effect of
perceived enjoyment in the relationships between computer playfulness and perceived ease of
use. More empirical studies are needed to further validate and generalize this argument about the
linkage between traits and cognitive reactions.
Empirical studies (e.g., Karahanna et al., 2002) have found that PIIT can predict the formation
of users' perceptions such as perceived usefulness. More innovative users have more positive per-
ceptions of the usefulness of information technologies.
Tables 4 and 5 show some gaps in the current IS studies. For example, we found very few empir-
ical studies focusing on the following relationships: CPS on perceived playfulness, perceived
enjoyment (except Sun and Zhang, 2004), attitude and satisfaction, and PIIT on perceived playful-
ness, perceived enjoyment, flow, attitude, and satisfaction. Further explorations of these links may
provide more insight into how individuals' traits influence their affective reactions toward using IT.
The Affective Antecedents of Behavioral Intention
For the purpose of this paper, we focus only on the affective antecedents of behavioral intention/
usage. For the cognitive reactions as antecedents, please refer to other technology acceptance
papers. Table 14.6 shows empirical evidence of affective reactions as antecedents of behavioral
intention/usage. In general, these influences are direct ones, as hypothesized by P2-1. For example,
Agarwal and Karahanna (2000) argued that contrary to the prediction that the influence of cognitive
absorption on behavioral intention would be fully mediated by belief concepts, cognitive absorption
has a direct significant impact on BI. Zhang and Li also find that perceived affective quality of a
course management system has a direct impact on intention to use the system (Zhang and Li, 2004).
However, some exceptions do exist. For example, an affective reaction variable, named affect
in Thompson et al.'s research, fails to precede users' actual usage behaviors (1991). Interestingly,
Cheung et al. (2000) recently retested this model and again found the impact of affect on usage to
be insignificant. Thompson et al. argue that the insignificant influence of affect on actual usage is
a result of the “different theoretical structures” from other research on affect and implies that
affect may have an indirect impact on usage via intention. Nevertheless, other research confirmed
that affective reaction variables could have significant impacts on usage. We thus attribute the
failure of affect to predict usage in Thompson et al.'s and following Cheung et al.'s research to
poorly defined and ill-measured concepts. Actually, their measurements have a relatively low reli-
ability (Cronbach's Alpha
0.61), which at least partially supports our argument.
Using the same measurement in Davis et al. (1992) but a different name (intrinsic motivation),
Venkatesh et al.'s (2002) finding of the impact of enjoyment is inconsistent with Davis et al.'s. The
inconsistency is very likely to be a result of the different theorized relationships between ease of
use and affect factors, named respectively intrinsic motivation and enjoyment in their studies.
While Davis et al. argued that ease of use predicts the affect (enjoyment), Venkatesh et al. sug-
gested another relationship: Affect (intrinsic motivation) predicts ease of use. From another
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