Internet Usage in the Academic Environment: the Technology Acceptance Model Perspective

This study examined the impacts of perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), and perceived Internet content (PIC) on students' usage of the Internet. Additionally, it investigated the impacts of these variables on usage of the Internet as moderated by gender, educational background, income, computer users' classification, and self-reported measure of computer knowledge. We modified the original technology acceptance model (TAM) and created a theoretical model to better understand the hypothesized relationships. To validate the research model, we collected data from 170 students at a regional Midwestern university. The results showed that PEOU and PU, but not PIC, were significant factors in influencing usage of the Internet. Additionally, gender was the only significant moderator. PEOU affected usage of the Internet more strongly for female students than it did for male students.