Survey on the Intention to Use Smartphones Among Students:

A TAM-IDT Perspective
Smartphones such as Apples iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung Galaxy and HTC have gained
much popularity over the last few years. Basically, smartphones have more advanced
computing ability and connectivity than contemporary mobile phones. They are typically
equipped with portable media players, cameras, high-resolution touchscreens, web browsers,
GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access (3G). Given its tremendous popularity,
this survey intends to examine university students intention to use smartphones.
Instructions: Please read each question carefully and respond to all questions to the best of
your ability by placing a check () for each question.

2- Disagree
(D)

3- Neutral
(N)

5- Strongly
Agree (SA)

1-Strongly
Disagree

4-Agree (A)

Description of items

USE1

Using the smartphone would enable me to accomplish tasks

more quickly.

USE2

Using the smartphone

performance.

USE3

Using the smartphone would increase my productivity.

USE4

Using the smartphone would enhance my effectiveness in

my studies.

USE5

Using the smartphone would make it easier for my studies.

USE6

I would find the smartphone useful in my studies.

EOU1

Learning to operate the smartphone would me easy for me.

EOU2

I would find it easy to get the smartphone to do what I want

it to do.

EOU3

My interaction with the smartphone would be clear and

understandable.

EOU4

I would find the smartphone to be flexible to interact with.

EOU5

It would be easy for me to become skillful at using the

smartphone.

EOU6

I would find the smartphone easy to use.

Item
no.

would

improve

my

study

3- Neutral
(N)

5- Strongly
Agree (SA)

2- Disagree
(D)

4-Agree (A)

1-Strongly
Disagree

SEF1

if there was no one around to tell me what to do as I go.

SEF2

if I had never used a smartphone like it before.

SEF3

if I had only the smartphone manuals for reference.

SEF4

if I had seen someone else using it before trying it

myself.

SEF5

if I could ask someone for help if I got stuck.

SEF6

if someone else had helped me get started.

SEF7

if I had a lot of time to complete the task for which the

smartphone was provided.

SEF8

if I had just the built-in help facility for assistance.

SEF9

if someone showed me how to do it first.

SEF10

if I had used similar smartphones before this one to do

the same task.

TRI1

Before deciding on whether or not to adopt the

smartphone, I would need to use it on a trial basis.

TRI2

Before deciding on whether or not to adopt the

smartphone, I would need to properly try it out.

TRI3

I would be allowed to use the smartphone on a trial basis

long enough to see what it can do.

TRI4

I know where I can go to satisfactorily to try out various

uses of the smartphone.

OBS1

It is easy for me to observe others using the smartphone in

my university.

OBS2

I have had a lot of opportunity to see the smartphone being

used.

COM1

Using the smartphone will be compatible with all aspects

of my studies.

COM2

Using the smartphone will fit into my study style.

COM3

I think that using the smartphone will fit well with the way
I like to study.

Item
no.

Description of items
I could complete a task using the smartphone

3- Neutral
(N)

5- Strongly
Agree (SA)

2- Disagree
(D)

4-Agree (A)

1-Strongly
Disagree

ATT1

Using the smartphone would be a good idea.

ATT2

Using the smartphone is would be a pleasant experience.

ATT3

Using the smartphone would be beneficial for me.

ATT4

I would like using the smartphone.

INT1

Assuming I have the smartphone, I intend to use it.

INT2

Whenever possible, I intend to use the smartphone.

INT3

To the extent possible, I would use the smartphone to do

different things.

INT4

I intend to increase my use of the smartphone in the future.

Item
no.

Description of items

PERSONAL PROFILE
1. What is your age? _______ years old
2. What is your gender? ____1.Male

____2. Female

3. What is your race/ethnicity?

____1.
____2.
____3.
____4.

Malay
Chinese
Indian
Others _________________(please specify)

4. What is your nationality?

____1. Malaysian
____2. Others _________________ (please specify)
5. What is your year of study?
____1.
____2.
____3.
____4.

First year
Second year
Third year
Fourth year and above

6. What programme are you registered for?

____1. Bachelors degree (undergraduate)
____2. Masters
____3. PhD
7. What is the status of your candidacy?
____1. Part time
____2. Full time
8. Which school/faculty are you from? ___________________________
9. Do you live in or outside campus?
____1. In campus
____2. Outside campus
10. What is your current CGPA level? ____________________________
INTERNET EXPERIENCE
11. How long (in years or months if less than 1 year) have you been using the internet?
_____________________
12. Do you have internet access at home?

____1. Yes ____2. No

13. Where do you primarily access internet from?

____1. Home
____2. Place of employment
____3. School/academic institution
____4. Cybercafe
____5. Others (please specify) _____________________
14. Which web browser do you usually use?
____1. Internet explorer
____2. Mozilla Firefox
____3. Others (please specify) _____________________
____4. More than one browser
15. On an average day, how much time do you spend on the internet?
____1.
____2.
____3.
____4.
____5.
____6.

Almost never
Less than 0.5 hours
From 0.5 hours to 1 hour
1-2 hours
2-3 hours
More than 3 hours

16. On average, how often do you use internet?

____1.
____2.
____3.
____4.
____5.
____6.

Less than once a month

Once a month
A few times a month
A few times a week
About once a day
Several times a day

END OF SURVEY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND COOPERATION

INTENTION TO USE SMARTPHONES AMONG STUDENTS:

A TAM-IDT PERSPECTIVE

Research Framework

Perceived
Usefulness

Perceived Ease
of Use

Compatibility
Attitude towards
Using Smartphones

Intention to Use
Smartphones

Observability

Trialability

Self-Efficacy

Theory:
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989) and
Innovation-Diffusion Theory (IDT) (Rogers, 1995; Moore & Benbasat, 1991)
Description of constructs used in the questionnaire
Item no.
USE1, USE2, USE3,
USE4, USE5, USE6

Variable name
Perceived Usefulness

Source
Park & Chen (2007)

No. of Items
6

EOU1, EOU2, EOU3,

EOU4, EOU5, EOU6

Perceived Ease of Use

Park & Chen (2007)

COM1, COM2, COM3

Compatibility

Park & Chen (2007)

OBS1, OBS2

Observability

Park & Chen (2007)

TRI1, TRI2, TRI3, TRI4

Trialability

Park & Chen (2007)

SEF1, SEF2, SEF3, SEF4,

SEF5, SEF6, SEF7, SEF8,
SEF9, SEF10

Self-Efficacy

Park & Chen (2007)

10

ATT1, ATT2, ATT3, ATT4

Attitude towards Using Smartphones

Park & Chen (2007)

INT1, INT2, INT3, INT4

Intention to Use Smartphones

Park & Chen (2007)

References
Davis, F.D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information
technology. MIS Quarterly, Vol. 13, No.3, pp. 319-339.
Moore, G.C. & Benbasat, I. (1991). Development of an instrument to measure the perceptions of
adopting an information technology innovation. Information Systems Research, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 192222.
Park, Y. & Chen, J.V. (2007). Acceptance and adoption of the innovative use of smartphone.
Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 107, No. 9, pp. 1349-1365.
Rogers, E. (1995). Diffusion of Innovations. New York: Free Press.