The research model.
The vitality of SCT, SCT, and TAM has been evaluated in the MLA. As a result, many previous studies adapted these acceptance theories to take into account newer aspects dependent on the technology under investigation
[28][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][28,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56]. The following
parsect
ions provide in-depth explanations of each of the factors that have been adopted in this study.
2.1. Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use
Numerous researchers have explored TAM empirically. Most of them proved that PU impacts BI
[28][32][47][50][51][52][53][54][56][57][58][28,32,47,50,51,52,53,54,56,57,58], while other previous studies related to TAM found no significant association between PU and BI
[23]. In addition, the outcomes of TAM studies confirmed that PEOU affects PU
[47][50][51][52][54][47,50,51,52,54], while some of the prior studies also found no significant relationship between PEOU and PU
[50]. Moreover, TAM studies confirmed that PEOU affects BI
[23][28][47][53][54][56][23,28,47,53,54,56], while in
[50] the researchers found no significant correlation between PEOU and BI. As a consequence, the following hypotheses were established in this study:
Hypothesis 1 (H1).
Perceived usefulness has a positive direct effect on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.
Hypothesis 2 (H2).
Perceived ease of use has a positive direct effect on perceived usefulness.
Hypothesis 3 (H3).
Perceived ease of use has a positive direct effect on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.
2.2. Perceived Convenience
PCV was acquired from Yoon and Kim
[40]. PCV has been used in multiple technology acceptance studies as a predictor of PU in a wide range of fields, such as MLA. For example, Taiwanese studies
[59][60][61][59,60,61] found that TAM, when improved with other factors, could be a comprehensive model for evaluating MLA’s user acceptance. Using PCV, they found that TAM was improved and that PCV was a reliable indicator of PU. Consequently, the subsequent hypothesis is presented:
Hypothesis 4 (H4).
Perceived convenience has a positive direct effect on perceived usefulness.
2.3. Self-Efficacy
As discussed in the theoretical background, the SE factor originated from SCT
[37]. Later on, Compeau and Higgins
[42] adopted the SE factor into their technology acceptance study. Some researchers added the SE factor as the predictor of PU and PEOU. Another study was performed to explore university students’ acceptance of MLA in South Korea
[62]. The findings specified no obvious correlation between SE and PU. In a study in Bangladesh, TAM was improved to determine the university students’ acceptance of MLA
[63]. The findings demonstrate that SE was a major predictor of PU and PEOU. In additional research in Malaysia, TAM was improved to examine the university students’ acceptance of MLA
[50]. They confirmed that SE was a significant predictor of PEOU, and no significant correlation was found between SE and PU. In another study in Malaysia that asserted the robustness of TAM, a model was presented to explore the factors influencing the adoption of MLA
[51]. The study found that SE was a major predictor of PEOU. Additionally, the adoption of MLA was examined among university students in Ghana
[52]. They confirmed that SE was a significant predictor of PEOU. Moreover, the acceptance of MLA was studied among university students in Cambodia
[54]. The findings confirm that SE was a significant predictor of PEOU, and no significant correlation was found between SE and PU. The present study proposes the following hypothesis:
Hypothesis 5 (H5).
Self-efficacy has a positive direct effect on perceived usefulness.
Hypothesis 6 (H6).
Self-efficacy has a positive direct effect on perceived ease of use.
2.4. Perceived Enjoyment
PE was adopted from Davis, Bagozzi, and Warshaw
[41]. Some researchers include the PE factor as the predictor of BI. Some studies were performed to examine the acceptance of MLA in Taiwan
[59][60][64][59,60,64]. The findings confirmed that PE was a major predictor of BI. In a study in China, TAM was enhanced to determine the university students’ adoption of MLA
[55]. The findings confirm that PE was a major predictor of BI. In a study in Pakistan, TAM was enhanced to explore the university students’ acceptance of MLA
[65]. They found no significant correlation between PE and BI. In other studies in Malaysia, TAM was enhanced to explore the university students’ acceptance of MLA
[51][53][51,53]. They confirmed that PE was a major predictor of BI. In contrast, research found no significant correlation between PE and BI
[66]. Furthermore, the adoption of MLA was examined among school students in Indonesia. The findings confirm that PE was a significant predictor of BI
[48][56][48,56]. Because of this, the following theory is put forth:
Hypothesis 7 (H7).
Perceived enjoyment has a positive direct effect on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.
2.5. Perceived Compatibility
As discussed in the theoretical background, the PCOM factor emerged from IDT
[38]. The researchers added the PCOM factor as the predictor of PEOU, PU, PE, and BI. Some studies were conducted to explore mobile phone users’ acceptance of MLA in Taiwan
[60][64][60,64]. The findings confirm that PCOM was a major predictor of PU, PEOU, PE, and BI. In another study, an extended TAM was implemented to explore university students’ acceptance of MLA in Jordan. They confirmed that PCOM was a major predictor of BI
[49]. Thus, the following hypotheses are suggested:
Hypothesis 8 (H8).
Perceived compatibility has a positive direct effect on perceived usefulness.
Hypothesis 9 (H9).
Perceived compatibility has a positive direct effect on perceived ease of use.
Hypothesis 10 (H10).
Perceived compatibility has a positive direct effect on perceived enjoyment.
Hypothesis 11 (H11).
Perceived compatibility has a positive direct effect on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.
2.6. Mediating Factors between PCOM and BI
According to
[67], a full mediator is one whose indirect influence exceeds the direct effect. If the indirect influence is less than the direct effect, however, it is not regarded as a mediator. Thus, identifying the mediators (PEOU and PE) between PCOM and BI leads us to consider if PCOM can be used as a method of adjusting PEOU and PE. Improving PEOU and PE among the MLA users can suggest appropriate PCOM to encourage increased BI to use MLA. Accordingly, this study proposed a related hypothesis as below:
Hypothesis 12 (H12).
Perceived ease of use mediates the relationship between perceived compatibility and on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.
Hypothesis 13 (H13).
Perceived enjoyment mediates the relationship between perceived compatibility and on Jordanian students’ intention to use mobile learning apps.