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Governments worldwide are using digital contact tracing (DCT) apps as a critical element in their COVID-19 pandemic lockdown exit strategy. Despite substantial investment in research and development, the public's acceptance of DCT apps has been phenomenally low, signaling resistance among potential users. Little is known about why people would resist using the DCT app, a useful innovation that can potentially save millions of human lives. This study explores the determinants and consequences of citizens' resistance to use DCT apps using a sequential two-stage mixed-methods approach. The preliminary qualitative study analyzed interviews of 24 Indian smartphone users who chose not to use or discontinued the DCT app after an initial trial. In the quantitative stage, an integrated model based on innovation resistance theory and distrust theory was tested using the survey data collected from 194 non-adopters of the DCT app from India. The findings revealed that the factors, distrust, value barrier, information privacy concerns, and usage barrier predicted the resistance to the DCT app, and resistance, in turn, predicted intention to use. Additionally, distrust was found to be a key mediator between innovation barriers and resistance. The insights from this study could help the developers and policymakers formulate strategies for implementing DCT interventions during future disease outbreaks.

The current study examines students’ coping process of a forced technological intervention in academic outcome assessment in a higher education setting. A mixed-method approach was used to study 246 post-graduate students’ post-usage behaviour of electronic tablet-PC exams and examined their end-user satisfaction. This is an empirical study grounded in the Coping Model of User Adaptation (CMUA). Respondents of the study comprise of post-graduate students, who were exposed to an innovative digital device for writing descriptive exams as a substitute to the conventional paper-mode exam. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Nvivo. Findings indicate that problem-focused coping has a significant influence on end-user satisfaction, and on the contrary emotion-focused coping is insignificant among the students. The study offers insights into those institutions, which are aspiring to advance with similar interventions in academic outcome assessment. The study contributes to the literature on technostress, coping strategy, and end-user satisfaction of ICT.

Objectives Digital contact tracing (DCT) was touted as an effective alternative to lockdown and other restrictive measures in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite considerable investments in research and development, the usage of DCT apps was found to be phenomenally low across the world. In this context, the current study investigates the factors influencing citizens’ continuance intentions to use the DCT app. Methods A theoretical framework was developed by extending the Expectation-confirmation model (ECM) of Information system continuance with Technology trust theory and a contextual factor perceived security and privacy to predict citizens’ continuance intentions to use the DCT app. The model was empirically tested using data from a field survey of 206 actual users of a DCT app implemented in India. Results The findings reveal that user satisfaction, trust in government, and trust in technology are significant predictors of citizens’ continuance intention. The model demonstrates high explanatory power by explaining 57.8% of the variance of continuance intention. It also validates the role of perceived security and privacy and trust in technology in determining user satisfaction. Conclusion The study makes a theoretical contribution by extending the ECM framework to predict DCT app continuance behavior. The insights from the study could be helpful for developers and policymakers in crafting strategies to improve the usage of DCT apps during future disease outbreaks.

Artificial intelligence-based clinical diagnostic decision support systems promise transformational improvements in doctors’ efficiency and accuracy. Nevertheless, low adoption rates suggest that this innovation could fail without adequate uptake. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to develop and test a model based on theories of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, status quo bias, and technology trust. The results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, initial trust, and resistance to change predict intention to use. Further, inertia, perceived threat, and risks (medico-legal and performance) determine resistance to change. Measures for alleviating resistance and improving adoption are proposed.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to analyse the perception of students toward a computer-based exam on a custom-made digital device and their willingness to adopt the same for high-stake summative assessment. Design/methodology/approach This study followed an analytical methodology using survey design. A modified version of students’ perception of e-assessment questionnaire (SPEAQ) was used to elicit information from the subjects, who were drawn from a first-year post-graduate course in management and commerce, soliciting voluntary participation in the survey. SmartPLS 2.0 was the major analytical tool used to understand the theoretical robustness of observed and latent variables through structural equation modelling. The final model was retained based on the structural significance of the path coefficients. Findings The results of the study offer ample evidence to establish the proposed theoretical relationship. It was found that the subjects of the study maintained a positive attitude toward e-assessment. Hence, the introduction of e-exams for high-stake assessment is suitable to current generation students. Research limitations/implications Findings of the study may be irrelevant to students who are not subject to e-learning processes, as an e-assessment can only be effective when students have ample exposure to working on computers. Practical/implications A major practical implication of the study is that e-exams will positively influence the outcome of education and effectiveness of the teaching–learning process. Technology, as an eclectic paradigm, can amplify the educational outcome by boosting the competency of students to meet challenges of any emerging situations. Originality/value The idea of an e-exam, using a custom-made device, is unprecedented. This paper offers a convincing empirical evidence to academic administrators to integrate e-assessment with e-learning programs.