Interface Design & Software Acceptance Interface Design & Software Applications

Previous research efforts have focused on particular pre-existing software with little focus on behavioral antecedents. Theoretical perspectives highlight the need for marketers to understand the importance of the adoption and acceptance process of next generation software in the current market. Conclusions from research have indicated a gap for behavioral antecedents that have led to a void in marketer's ability to understand and predict consumer behavior.

Lack of user acceptance impedes the success of new software. User acceptance is a pivotal factor in whether software will be used. Usability involves effectiveness, efficiency, engagement, error tolerance, and ease of learning (Quesenbery, n.d.). Accessibility involves usefulness to measure whether the actual users can achieve the goals (Anon., 2000). Interface design affects whether users use particular software. The study is to determine how users make decisions to use software based on the interface design. How the user experiences the end product is key to acceptance (Usernomics, n.d.). There are new trends of cluster computing that are creating standardization for the abilities of third party independent software suppliers to produce building blocks to support trends of off-the-shelf hardware and software that can be pieced together creating specifications for products to be built with the promise of interchangeability (Macwan, 2006). Reliability has become a vast and critical area.

1.2 Background

a) Previous research efforts focused on particular pre-existing technology with little focus on behavioral antecedents (Anon., 2008). Behavioral antecedents can help marketers and practioners understand why consumers purchase particular interface designs in software. There needs to be more research on the behavioral antecedents in an effort to determine more human factors involved in the decisions on interface design.

b) Previous studies focused on consumer habits and old technologies without any focus on new technology and how the interface design is used to make decisions about the acceptance of software. There is interest among practioners and researchers in understanding why people accept technologies for the better methods of design, evaluation, and prediction for how users will respond with new technologies (Dillon, 1996). While the elements of software are usability and flexibility (Anon., 2006) the degree an individual may function can be affected by accessibility, situational factors, and subjective perception (Axup, 2004). Usage philosophy is influenced by cultural differences that can cause acceptance problems or rejection (Zuhlke, 2006). Developers have a different view of the product, a different skill set, and often enforce their own desires instead of those from the end user (Giuliana, 2002). The human factor goals with software are the intuitive interface, easiest interaction possible, and help to complete tasks. What people see influences how they feel and what they understand (Daniel, 1999). Factors involved are development factors, visibility factors, and acceptance factors (Martin, n.d.). Actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied (Anon., 2012).

1.3 Research Aims & Objectives

This research aims to determine what factors of interface design users use to determine what software they will use to meet their goals. This research will need a survey of questions with the answers being analyzed with statistical methods to determine how what factors about interface design they use to make decisions about software use. It aims to lead to prediction, explanation, and understanding.

1.4 Research questions: This study will answer the question of what factors about interface design influences users to use software. It is important for practioners and marketers to understand why people would use particular software to determine consumer needs and desires.

1.5 Hypothesis:

(H1) Perceived ease of use will have a significant positive influence of attitude toward using. (H2) Perceived usefulness will have a significant positive influence on use. (H3) Behavioral intentions will have a significant positive influence of actual use.

1.6 Rationale

The reason for this research would be to determine the human factors that play into the factors of interface design in making decisions for software use.

1.7 Reflections

The study focuses on decision making process of how consumers make decisions for products and services they need and concludes that there is a research gap for behavioral antecedents that has...

Limitations may occur from participants not understanding or misunderstanding the questions. Participants may not give honest answers for fear of impressing the researcher.
1.9 Action plan

The action plan is to send invitations to participants and invite them to participate. This would take approximately one month to gain a sufficient sample of the population while conducting literature review at the same time. The actual participate study will take place in one day. The analysis phase of the project will consist of statistical analysis and could take up to one week to determine conclusions.

1.10 Ethical considerations

Ethical considerations will consist of encouragement for honest answers from participants to encourage the most accurate information for analysis.

1.11 Theoretical Framework:

The acceptance theory seeks to extend the model of user-centered design to questions of interface improvement to predictions of likely usage. The diffusion theory has five characteristics of innovations that affect diffusion; relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. These characteristics do not work alone. Studies have demonstrated that innovations of advantages, compatibility, with existing practices and beliefs, low complexity, potential trialability, and observability will be more extensive when diffused with innovation than in clusters of opposite characteristics. Usage as a dependent variable is appropriate to determine user acceptance (Compeau, 1995). The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) proposed by Fishbein and Ajzen (Ajzen, 1985) represents comprehensive theory of interrelationships between attitudes, intention, and behavior (Howard, 1989). The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen 1985) is an extension of (TRA) that includes an additional concept, or perceived behavior control (Baggozzi, 1990) replaces behavior with trying to behave as the variable to be explained or predicted. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) focuses on explaining attitudes that impact decisions on technology (Shih, 2004). TAM2 adds to TAM to explain perceived usefulness and usage intentions in terms of social influence and cognitive instrumental process (Venkatesh, 2003). TAM2 is more appropriate for this research.

1.12 Research Design

A survey research methodology is considered appropriate. It is concerned with drawing a sample from a population, studying results from the questionnaire, and making inferences about the population. It will follow a three phase approach. Phase one will be an indepth analysis of relevant literature. In order to generalize about regularities in human and social behavior, it will require a sample of sufficient size. Phase two will be an empirical study with the selected sample to gather relevant data to test the hypothesis in using chosen emerging software. Data from surveys enable the use of hypothetico-deductive methodology. In phase three the researcher will arrive at conclusions by interpreting the meanings from the results of the data analysis.

1.13 Analysis and discussion:

Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess overall model and the impact of each variable in determining actual use. Cronbach's Alpha (Morris, 1997) was used to access scale reliability and establish validity and reliability of scales. The reliability analysis was used to access the stability of scales.

1.14 Implementation of Research project

Implementation will start off the project with a mailing to invite participants to the study.

1.15 Research Evaluation

Research evaluation will be conducted using statistical analysis of the results from the methodology results in a deductive methodology manner.

1.16 Conclusions

Previous research indicates the need for further investigation into the behavioral antecedents that determine the decisions consumers make about interface design for the use of software.

1.17 Recommendations and future work

More research needs to be done regarding the behavioral antecedents that determine how consumers make decisions regarding the use of software.

1.18