Network Effects in Technology Acceptance: Laboratory Evidence

This research analyzes network effects in technology acceptance, on the hypothesis that the larger is user network, the more likely is technology acceptance. Still today, empirical measurement of network effects is challenging and there is a lack of experimental evidence, particularly in technology acceptance research. To overcome this limitation we reproduce a particular class of technology acceptance processes in a laboratory experiment, controlling for the user network size to verify if it can make a difference in user perceptions and, ultimately, in acceptance decisions. We measured user perceptions and analyzed the data set using standard technology acceptance models. The experiments confirm our working hypothesis, showing a significant role of network effects on key user perceptions influencing technology acceptance.