| Categorized Graphical Overviews for Web Search Results: An Exploratory Study using U.S. Government Agencies as a Meaningful and Stable Structure | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 20-24 | |
| Bill Kules; Ben Shneiderman | |||
| Search engines are very effective at generating long lists of results that
are highly relevant to user-provided query terms. But the lack of effective
overviews presents challenges to users who seek to understand these results,
especially for a complex task such as learning about a topic area, which
requires gaining overviews of and exploring large sets of search results,
identifying unusual documents, and understanding their context. Categorizing
the results into comprehensible visual displays using meaningful and stable
classifications can support user exploration and understanding of large sets of
search results. This extended abstract presents a set of principles that we are
developing for search result visualization. It also describes an exploratory
study that investigated categorized overviews of search results for complex
search tasks within the domain of U. S. government web sites, using a hierarchy
based on the federal government organization. Keywords: Categorized search results, search result visualization, information
seeking, information retrieval, graphical user interfaces, human-computer
interaction | |||
| An Empirical Study of the Roles of Affective Variables in User Adoption of Search Engines | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 25-29 | |
| Heshan Sun; Ping Zhang | |||
| The current study is built upon prior research and is an attempt to explore
the roles of affective variables in user technology adoption. Two different
affective variables, computer playfulness and perceived enjoyment, were
examined and their relationships with each other and with cognitive and
behavioral variables were hypothesized. An empirical study using survey method
was conducted. Analyses with the PLS technique confirmed most of the
hypotheses. Our findings suggest that perceived enjoyment has a significant
impact on perceived ease of use, but no direct effect on behavioral intention.
Perceived enjoyment mediates the impact of computer playfulness on PEOU, which
has not been studied before. Keywords: Computer playfulness, perception of enjoyment, trait, technology adoption,
empirical study, search engines Note: Best paper award | |||
| Learning, Performance, and Analysis Support for Complex Software Applications | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 30-34 | |
| Steven R. Haynes; Thomas George Kannampallil | |||
| We propose a three-part framework describing support tools for users of
complex software applications such as enterprise resource planning and decision
support systems. The model is motivated by the objectives of learning,
performance, and analysis and is grounded in the theories of constructivism,
pragmatism, and reflection respectively. This mapping is supported both by
results of prior research and by a case study formative evaluation of a
complex, cognitive support system developed for antiterrorism resource
allocation. The work contributes to the field of system usability by providing
an integrative framework linking established theoretical positions with
empirical research on human-computer interaction. Keywords: Complex systems, user support, help, learning, reflection | |||
| A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Two Web Site Usability Instruments | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 35-39 | |
| David T. Green; J. Michael Pearson | |||
| Many perspectives of user acceptance of Web sites have been examined, yet
information systems research often overlooks the human-computer interaction
aspects, particularly in the area of Web site usability. Web site usability has
recently gained greater acceptance in information literature through the
development of instruments by Palmer (2002) and Agarwal and Venkatesh (2002).
This study conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of both instruments in an
attempt to validate the two instruments. Our results found that the Palmer
instrument exhibited satisfactory measurement properties, although allowing
room for further refinement. The Agarwal and Venkatesh instrument, although
useful as a practical metric, displayed poor validity for the underlying
constructs that compose Web site usability. Validation of these instruments
furthers their scope and potential use by researchers and practitioners in
helping them better understand the capabilities of their Web sites, while
providing a foundation for further refinement of the Web site usability
construct. Keywords: Web site usability, confirmatory factor analysis | |||
| Using Ratings and Response Latencies to Evaluate the Consistency of Immediate Aesthetic Perceptions of Web Pages | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 40-44 | |
| Noam Tractinsky; Avivit Cokhavi; Moti Kirschenbaum | |||
| Using explicit (subjective evaluations) and implicit (response latency)
measures, this study replicated and extended the findings by Fernandes et al
(2003), who found that immediate aesthetic impressions of web pages are
remarkably consistent. Forty participants evaluated 50 web pages in two phases.
The degree to which web pages were regarded, on average, as attractive after a
very short exposure of 0.5 sec. was highly correlated with attractiveness
ratings after an exposure of 10 seconds. Extreme attractiveness evaluations
(both positive and negative) were faster than moderate evaluations, providing
convergent evidence to the hypothesis of immediate impression. Overall, the
results provide direct evidence in support of the premise that aesthetic
impression of the IT artifacts are formed quickly. Indirectly, the results
suggest that visual aesthetics can play an important role in users' evaluations
of the IT artifact. Keywords: Attractiveness, aesthetics, web pages, response latency, human-computer
interaction | |||
| A Methodology for Business Value-Driven Website Evaluation: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 45-49 | |
| Jungpil Hahn; Robert J. Kauffman | |||
| Managers at e-commerce firms are in need of proven methods for ongoing
website evaluation. However, current approaches to website evaluation are not
perfectly suited to the task at hand. This paper proposes a new business
value-driven approach to website evaluation, which is theoretically grounded in
the economic theory of production. We view online shopping as an economic
production process in which customers are using various functionalities of an
e-commerce website in order to complete a purchase transaction. This view
enables us to formulate a novel perspective on website performance -- the
ability to transform inputs (i.e., use of website functionalities) into outputs
(i.e., completed purchase transactions). We propose two DEA-based metrics,
InefficiencyBreadth and UnitInefficiency that help identify website
functionalities that are potentially ineffective. Keywords: B2C e-commerce, website evaluation, business value, website effectiveness
metrics, data envelopment analysis | |||
| A Study of the Effects of Online Advertising: A Focus on Pop-Up and In-Line Ads | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 50-54 | |
| Scott McCoy; Andrea Everard; Dennis Galletta; Peter Polak | |||
| Pop-up, pop-under, and in-line ads have been said to be intrusive, and
previous findings suggest that they could have important effects on user
perception and cognition. Using a 2x2 factorial design, this experimental study
examines the effects of those ads. Besides a control group without ads, factors
included ad placement (pop-up vs inline) and ad congruence (with the site's
content or not). Results indicated that intention to return was impaired by
ads; retention of website information was higher when ads were inline or when
ads were not congruent with website content; and retention of ad content was
higher for inline ads and those that were not congruent to the content of the
website. However, contrary to expectations, intentions to return were not
affected by ad placement, retention of site content was not affected by the
existence of ads, and intrusiveness of ads was not affected by ad congruence. Keywords: Electronic commerce, advertising, website design, intentions, retention | |||
| Designing Tailorable Technologies | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 55-59 | |
| Matt Germonprez; Fred Collopy | |||
| Tailorable technologies are technologies that are modified by users in the
context of their use and are around us as desktop operating systems, web
portals, and mobile telephones. While tailorable technologies provide users
with limitless ways to modify the technology, as designers and researchers we
have little understanding of how this should affect design. In this paper we
present principles from four designers to strengthen inquiry into tailorable
technologies. We then apply the principles to the case of the design of a web
portal. We conclude that designers need to more consciously build reflective
and active design environments and gradients of interactive capabilities in
order for technology to be readily modified in the context of its use. Keywords: Information systems, tailorable systems, human-computer interaction,
information systems design | |||
| Instilling Social Presence through the Web Interface | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 60-64 | |
| Khaled Hassanein; Milena Head | |||
| Electronic commerce is more impersonal, anonymous and automated than
traditional person-to-person commerce, and as such, typically lacks human
warmth and sociability. This paper explores how human warmth and sociability
can be integrated through the Web interface to positively impact consumer
attitudes towards online shopping. An empirical study was undertaken to
investigate the impact of various levels of socially-rich text and picture
design elements on the perception of online social presence and its subsequent
effect on antecedents of Website attitude. Higher levels of social presence are
shown to positively impact the perceived usefulness, trust and enjoyment of
shopping Websites, leading to more favourable consumer attitudes. Implications
of these finding for practitioners and future research are outlined. Keywords: e-Commerce, social presence, Web interface, online trust, TAM, enjoyment | |||
| The Value of Mobile Commerce to Customers | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 65-69 | |
| Keng Siau; Hong Sheng; Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah | |||
| This research studies the values of m-commerce using a qualitative
means-ends approach, called Value-Focused Thinking. The conceptual foundation
for this research is the Work System Framework. By interviewing both current
and potential m-commerce users, we captured the values of m-commerce and
develop a means-ends objective network to illustrate the relationships among
these values. As one of the first empirical research to assess the values of
m-commerce, this research contributes to an increased understanding of
m-commerce. The means-ends objective network also serves as a theoretical
foundation for future research in m-commerce. For practitioners, our findings
highlight the concerns and issues of customers, which are valuable for strategy
formulation in m-commerce. Keywords: Mobile commerce, value-focused thinking, work system framework | |||
| Motivations for Mobile Devices: Uses and Gratifications for M-Commerce | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 70-74 | |
| Thomas F. Stafford; Mark L. Gillenson | |||
| Uses and Gratifications is a media use paradigm useful for diagnosing user
motivations for computer and technology usage. This study documents the
exploratory processes of developing a mobile device uses and gratifications
motivational inventory, beginning with qualitative inquiry and proceeding
through exploratory analysis of motivational dimensions for usage. Results
indicate that mobile device uses and gratifications are mainly centered on the
speed and connectivity with which associated data and information services are
available for busy technology users. Keywords: Mobile commerce, electronic commerce, Internet, user motivations, uses and
gratifications | |||
| Exploring Customers' Preferences for Online Games | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 75-79 | |
| Seung Baek; Young-Suk Song; Jae Kyo Seo | |||
| Online content providers who use the Internet to distribute content
experience an extremely competitive business environment. To survive in this
environment, they have started charging a fee for the content that they
provide. However, there have been very few success stories in commercializing
online content. Although one of few success stories is the online game, it
still has customers' psychological resistance against paying a high fee for
playing games. To pay back their high R&D or development costs quickly,
many online game producers have a tendency to assign high prices to their
online games. Without examining customers' perceived prices for online games,
many online game producers have tended to decide prices from their
perspectives. Although many online game-related research works have focused on
psychological and technical aspects, very few works have examined online
gamers' preferences carefully. This study aims at exploring online gamers'
preference by measuring their WTP (Willingness To Pay) for online games. Keywords: Online games, willingness to pay, content provider, content price,
preference, conjoint analysis | |||
| Behavioral Factors Affecting Internet Abuse in the Workplace -- An Empirical Investigation | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 80-84 | |
| Irene M. Y. Woon; Loo Geok Pee | |||
| Internet abuse in the workplace refers to employee's use of Internet
provided by the organization for non-work-related purpose. It has not only
resulted in productivity loss, bandwidth waste and legal liability, it also
exposed organizations' information systems to a host of new security threats.
To gain a better understanding of the factors influencing Internet abuse
behavior in the workplace, this study applied the Theory of Interpersonal
Behavior proposed by Triandis and investigated the effects of job satisfaction,
affect, social factors, perceived consequences, habit and facilitating
conditions on Internet abuse intention and behavior. Results indicated that all
factors are significant at 0.05 level. Affect, social factors and habit have
the greatest influence on Internet abuse intention and behavior. An interesting
result is that employees with higher level of job satisfaction have a more
positive affect towards Internet abuse. Implications for Internet security
management are discussed. Keywords: Internet security, Internet abuse, Triandis' theory of interpersonal
behavior, job satisfaction, social factors, perceived consequences, habit,
facilitating conditions | |||
| A Process Tracing Study on Trust Formation in Recommendation Agents | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 85-89 | |
| Sherrie Xiao Komiak; Izak Benbasat | |||
| This study utilizes a processing tracing method to explore the processes of
trust formation in web-based product-brokering recommendation agents (RAs). We
compare and contrast the processes of trust/distrust formation in an
attribute-based RA (a typical content-based RA) versus a need-based RA (a
content-based RA plus need-based questions). Concurrent verbal protocols from
49 subjects were collected, transcribed, and analyzed. Our protocol analysis
results show that the need-based RA elicits significantly more trust formation
processes and fewer distrust formation processes than the attribute-based RA
does, which explains why the level of customer trust in the need-based RA is
significantly higher than the level of customer trust in the attribute-based
RA. Interestingly, our results show that, for both types of RAs, the top three
processes of trust formations are different from the top three processes of
distrust formations. Suggestions are given on how to design more trustworthy
RAs. Keywords: Trust, recommendation agents, electronic commerce, protocol analysis,
process tracing | |||
| Effects of Choice Contrast and Order Sequence on Consumer Judgment and Decision in Comparison-Shopping Assisted Environment | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 90-94 | |
| Chuan-Hoo Tan; Yee-Pia Chan; Xue Yang; Hock-Chuan Chan; Hock-Hai Teo | |||
| Comparison-Shopping (CS) websites, such as mySimon.com, assist consumers in
managing the vast amount of information offered by multiple retailers on the
Internet. Conventional wisdom would have dictated that the provision of the
best set of alternatives by CS websites should lead to high consumer
satisfaction and purchase propensity. However, consumers may experience
decision difficulty to choose among alternatives that are nondominated (i.e.,
none of the alternative is inferior for all product attributes). Consequently,
they may simply avoid making a decision by not committing to any purchase.
Grounded on behavioral and context-dependent decision-making literature, this
paper builds a model that explores the effects of choice content and choice
order sequence on consumer behavior and explains how they can potentially
alleviate the difficulty of making purchase decisions. Keywords: Comparison-shopping, context effect, contrast effect, choice order sequence | |||
| Dual-Modal Presentation of Sequential Information | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 95-99 | |
| Shuang Xu; Xiaowen Fang; Jacek Brzezinski; Susy Chan | |||
| on human attention, this study intends to design a visual-auditory
information presentation to: (1) minimize the interference in information
processing between visual and auditory channels; and (2) improve the
effectiveness of mental integration of information from different modalities.
Baddeley suggests that imagery spatial information and verbal information can
be concurrently held in different subsystems within human working memory.
Accordingly, this research proposes a method to convert sequential textual
information into its graphical and verbal representations and hypothesizes that
this dual-modal presentation will result in superior comprehension performance
and higher satisfaction as compared to pure textual display. Simple T-tests
will be used to test the hypothesis. Results of this study will help to address
usability problems associated with small-screen computers. Findings may also
benefit interface design of generic computer systems by alleviating the
overabundance of information output in the visual channel. Keywords: Multi-modal interfaces, information presentation, human attention, working
memory, interface design | |||
| Spreadsheet Visualization Effects on Error Correction | | BIBAK | Full-Text | 100-104 | |
| Hock Chuan Chan | |||
| Spreadsheets have been used by organizations for decades. Errors in
spreadsheets are commonly found in laboratory and field findings. In recent
years, many exciting new visualization techniques have been developed to help
users understand spreadsheet models and to check for errors. Two visualization
tools were tested in an experiment for their effects on error correction. The
first is a simple arrow tool which shows dependencies among cells. The second
shows the input-process-output function of cells in addition to the dependency
arrows. The experiment shows significantly better error detection with the
arrow method than for the plain method (without visualization tools). Wrong
data errors took more time to correct than missing data errors. Keywords: Spreadsheet error detection, spreadsheet visualization, error types | |||