The Technology Integration Model (TIM): predicting the continued use of technology

TLDR: The main objective of TIM is to outline the processes behind continued technology use in an individual's everyday life and can help generate research questions relating to technology use while simultaneously addressing many previous shortcomings of existing models.

About: This article is published in Computers in Human Behavior.The article was published on 2018-06-01 and is currently open access. It has received 60 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Technology integration & Emerging technologies.

Figures

Table 1: Identification of key technology use variables by combining synonymous variables across models.

Table 2: Descriptions and examples of how technology can extend and subtract from a person’s mind, body, environment and possessions.

Figure 1: The Technology Integration Model (TIM).

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions in this paper?

Here the authors present the model alongside a description of its scope and the relationships between constructs. This can help generate research questions relating to technology use while simultaneously addressing many previous shortcomings of existing models. 

Q2. What is the purpose of creating theories?

the purpose of creating theories is to simplify the phenomena under investigation and allow for improved understanding. 

Q3. What are examples of using a technology for extrinsic purposes?

Examples of using a technology for extrinsic purposes include using a technology to manage money, preserve the environment or to improve physical health. 

Q4. What is the effective method of capturing a person’s opinion of a technology?

the most effective method of capturing a person’s opinion of the technology, prior to use, is through their assessment of costs and benefits, and the consequence of this decision is immediately observable through either use, or no use of the technology. 

Q5. What could be used to examine other variables such as context, individual differences and motivations?

Researchers could also further utilise methods derived from ecological momentary and ambulatory assessment to examine other variables such as context, individual differences and motivations. 

Q6. What is the advantage of exploring a wide range of individual differences?

The advantage of exploring a wide range of individual differences is that it becomes possible to discover which are the most important and influential when predicting technology use, and does not place boundaries on the vast number of individual differences that can be included. 

Q7. Who first proposed the idea of the 'control over an object'?

This idea was first proposed by McClelland (1951) who stated that the more control you exert over an object or technology, the more incorporated an object becomes part of a person’s self-identity. 

Q8. What is the purpose of the variable Technological features?

the formation of the variable Technological features aims to provide descriptive knowledge which can be used to guide the design and implementation of technology. 

Q9. What can be done to ensure that situational context has practical value in subsequent research?

By defining and reducing context to what is described above, the authors can ensure that situational context has practical value in subsequent research.