The Effects of Task-Based Documentation Versus Online Help Menu Documentation on the Acceptance of Information Technology

The objectives of this study were (1) to identify and describe task-based documentation; (2) to identify and describe any purported changes in users attitudes when IT migration was preceded by task-based documentation; (3) to suggest implications of task-based documentation on users attitude toward IT acceptance. Questionnaires were given to 150 university students. Of these, all 150 students participated in this study. The study determined the following: (1) if favorable pre-implementation attitudes toward a new e-mail system increase, as a result of training, if users expect it to be easy to learn and use; (2) if user acceptance of an e-mail program increase as expected perceived usefulness increase as delineated by task-based documentation; (3) if task-based documentation is more effective than standard help menus while learning a new application program; and (4) if training that requires active student participation increase the acceptance of a new e-mail system. The following conclusions were reached: (1) Positive pre-implementation attitudes toward a new e-mail system are not affected by training even if the users expect it to be easy to learn and use. (2) User acceptance of an e-mail program does not increase as perceived usefulness increase when aided by task-based documentation. (3) Task-based documentation is not more effective than standard help menus when learning a new application program. (4) Training that requires active student participation does not increase the acceptance of a new e-mail system.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

1999

Author dc:creator

• Bell, Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cleveland, Donald B., 1935-
• Totten, Herman L.
• Knezek, Gerald
• Ennis-Cole, Demetria

• Electronic data processing documentation.
• Electronic mail systems.
• Information technology -- Study and teaching.
• e-mail
• IT acceptance

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Bell, Thomas
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 42847736
untcat: b2166874
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2195/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2195

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2195