An Empirical Analysis of the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Review of Its Application on E-democracy Adoption Using the Partial Least Squares Algorithm.

Abstract

Prior information systems (IS) research has provided valuable insight on technology adoption and use which is critical in deriving the benefits of information technology. These studies have utilized theories such as Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Reason Action, and Technological determinism model to investigate technology adoption. This study continues in this line of research by evaluating the perspectives of investigating the concept of e-democracy within the framework of the Planned Behavioral Theory an extension to the Theory of Reason Action. The article seeks to explain internet and mobile enhanced citizen’s participation in democracy (e-democracy) base on their inherent (attitude) and environmental (subjective norms and perceived behavioral control) enablers and barriers to participate in e-democracy, and how the internet and wireless technologies can help to address democratic issues in resource poor settings such as the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). The study takes the perspective of critical realism and thus provides an example of the application of this research paradigm in an empirical study. We investigated this phenomenon by providing a theoretical grounded model that explains e-democracy adoption adapted from the theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and tested from an empirical examination of constructs using data from randomly selected sub-Saharan African countries. The results render support for the proposed hypotheses, emphasizing the role of human behavior on citizens’ e-democracy adoption.