Deconstructing Motivations of ICT Adoption and Use: A Theoretical Model and its Applications to Social ICT

Abstract

This paper begins by presenting a case that models of behavioral intention do not provide insight into the core needs of human beings, and as such, cannot inform designers as to what types of ICT features and functions might help meet users’ ICT adoption rationale. We review various motivational concepts across different disciplines. We then present a theoretical model of motivation that encapsulates the process from primitive basic human needs, to the formation and attainment of a specific endstate. We use a real life scenario to show the model’s explanatory power. We end by discussing potential implementations of this model into the study of ICTs.