Date of Graduation

8-2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Information Systems

Advisor/Mentor

Grover, Varun

Committee Member

Steelman, Zachary

Second Committee Member

Young, Amber G.

Third Committee Member

Aloysius, John A.

Keywords

Technology-induced excessive use; Model of Hooked State; Assess scale validity

Abstract

Most of today’s software applications involve a dyadic interplay between human and technology agency. The use of algorithms driven by user can alter users' interaction patterns by affording them novel and relevant technology action possibilities. I argue that algorithmic activities and features embedded in apps can keep users on IT applications (apps) for longer periods of time. I refer to the behavior of interacting with the apps for longer time than planned as technology-induced excessive use. While practitioners are beginning to recognize characteristics of technology-induced excessive use, research on this topic is very limited. I used a multimethod approach to study this phenomenon in three essays. In the first essay, 107 technology users were interviewed, and a (qualitative) grounded theory technique was used to comprehend technology-induced excessive use behavior. The analysis of interview data revealed participants spent longer time with a technology are "hooked” on the technology. The qualitative data also allowed us to develop a variance model identifying the causes and consequences of “hooked” state, as well as a process model describing the progression of hooked from the initial use of technology. In the second essay, I conducted two surveys to validate the model of hooked. The results support various hypotheses how users become “hooked” due to the dynamic interaction between human and technology agencies. Following the ten-step method proposed by MacKenzie et al.(2011), in the third essay, I conceptualized and developed a measurement instrument for technology-induced use, a new usage construct that incorporates the agency of technology in usage and its predictive validity. Taken together, this dissertation presents a theoretical foundation for an emerging phenomenon, introduces a new usage construct, and guides future research on the role of technology in inducing usage.

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