Technology Acceptance Model Essay Example

relevant facts and can expand on previous studies. Kuhn refers to this phase of working within a paradigm as normal science.

"Normal science" is the period when research takes place within a paradigm and scientists are focused on solving puzzles to enhance the application of the paradigm. However, normal science also involves the discovery of anomalies that challenge the paradigm. When these inconsistencies become significant and pose a threat to the paradigm, a crisis ensues and normal science is interrupted. During a crisis, new paradigms are suggested, often by young or new scientists who are more receptive to alternative ideas.

According to Kuhn (1970), a period of scientific revolution occurs when one alternate paradigm slowly outshines other competing paradigms. Kuhn's work highlighted that scientific knowledge is socially constructed, negotiated, and continuously evolving. TAM can be considered a form of normal science, in accordance with Kuhn's definition. Since its introduction in 1989, TAM has served as a fundamental framework for measuring technology adoption in various situations and has undergone evaluation, testing, application, and extension.

TAM, which has been a model for additional scientific research, can be proven to meet the three criteria for factual scientific investigation according to Kuhn [1970]. It has been demonstrated that TAM is especially effective in solving problems and determining significant facts in various situations. Over the past 20 years, TAM has successfully predicted technology acceptance in different circumstances, as confirmed by numerous researchers and practitioners.

The constructs of PU and PEOU in TAM have been successful in predicting technology adoption intentions, and even actual usage (Szajna, 1996). Another important area of investigation is aligning facts with theory.

TAM is based on psychology and consistently matches technology adoption predictions with behavioral and cognitive psychology theories. Additionally, articulating theory is a crucial focus of scientific inquiry.

The text discusses the use of empirical work in formulating and validating the TAM paradigm theory. TAM remains a focal point for many empirical studies and meta-analyses, attracting more researchers from the IS community. These researchers use TAM constructs to validate the model across different technology perspectives. Davis' (1989) article has been widely cited and has provided a foundation for further modifications and adaptations. When examining the numerous research articles applying TAM, it is clear that there is a significant body of information systems researchers who have embraced the model as a paradigm and are conducting extensive research within its framework.

The paradigm includes instruments, methods, and techniques that explain how to conduct research within the theory's boundaries and how to replicate successful research. TAM demonstrates this through its various data collection instruments and researchers' use of confirmatory statistical techniques. An IS researcher who possesses the theoretical model, data collection instruments, and appropriate statistical package can investigate beliefs concerning the adoption and usage of nearly any technology (Silva, 2007).

In TAM, anomalies have emerged over time, challenging certain postulates of the paradigm, as is common in any evolving normal science. In 1997, Straub et al. conducted a study testing the technology acceptance model in three countries. The findings revealed that TAM was applicable in both the U.S. and Switzerland but not in Japan.

The suggestion made is that the model may not accurately predict technology usage in all cultures. In another study conducted by

Lucas et al. [2000], which focused on workstations and networks, it was found that TAM and its extensions were not strong predictors of the acceptance of a broker workstation. The researchers concluded that combining variance models like TAM with qualitative research provides the best chance of comprehending the implementation of modern information technology.

Some of the technology-specific anomalies were resolved by adding external variables. In general, this analysis suggests that TAM can be seen as a Kuhnian paradigm where researchers and practitioners conduct experiments to predict technology adoption. Over the past 23 years, TAM has expanded to better explain the relationship between technology and its constructs. However, it is possible that severe anomalies could lead to a scientific revolution, challenging TAM and changing the way future technology acceptance is predicted.