Date of Award

12-1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Abstract

Contemporary information technology (IT) related research has focused on use as a key dependent measure for valuing IT. By understanding the determinants of IT use, we gain descriptive information about successful IT, and prescriptive information for better deploying IT resources. Although there are several competing theories regarding IT use, research findings often cite their inability to account for temporal changes in usage behaviors. This thesis introduces quality of experience as a potential moderator between the determinants of use and actual usage behaviors. A pilot survey concerning Internet usage generated potentially relevant items which were later refined into a questionnaire assessing each item's relative importance to perceptions of quality of experience. Initial indications suggest 10 of the items represent a temporally stable and unidimensional construct; however, this thesis further examines several possible competing explanations for the results in order to motivate potential follow-on research in this domain. Fundamental issues concerning the measurement task limit the degree to which scale and construct validity can be assessed. Findings are also interpreted within the context of IT and cognitive/behavioral science perspectives; parallels between the obtained results and expectations based on these perspectives further provide for face validity of the quality of experience construct.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GIR-LAS-97D-14

DTIC Accession Number

ADA335464

Comments

Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management of the Air Force Institute of Technology

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