Examining the structural relationships among e-learning interactivity, uncertainty avoidance, and perceived risks of COVID-19: Applying extended technology acceptance model

ABSTRACT

Although e-learning has been studied in different contexts, the intention to use e-learning during the Corona virus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has yet to be explored. This study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) by treating e-learning interactivity as the antecedent construct of TAM. The constructs of uncertainty avoidance and perceived risks of COVID-19 were also added to understand the attitude and behavioral intentions of students to use e-learning. Two hundred and eighty-eight students from India participated in this study and partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results revealed that e-learning offers a high level of interactivity, which influences perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and enhances a positive attitude of the students. Perceived ease of use was directly found to influence the perceived usefulness of e-learning. Uncertainty avoidance had a positive effect on attitude and intention to use e-learning. Perceived risks of COVID-19 showed a positive and significant effect on attitude, whereas the former did not affect intention to use e-learning. Finally, attitude also influenced intention to use e-learning. Our findings provide academia with theoretical implications and practitioners with practical implications.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Notes on contributors

V. G. Girish

V. G. Girish is an associate professor in the Department of Business Administration, The Catholic University of Korea. He earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India and MBA from National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. His research interest is on topics related to management, sports, tourism, and education.

Mi-Young Kim

Mi-Young Kim is an assistant professor of Department of Aviation Service at Joongbu University, Geumsan, South Korea. Her research includes aviation, tourism, university education, and services. She serves as an editorial assistant to the International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research.

Indira Sharma

Indira Sharma is an assistant professor at Prestige Institute of Management, Gwalior India. She owns masters and doctoral degree in management from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India. Her research interest is on topics related to HR, psychology, and education.

Choong-Ki Lee

Choong-Ki Lee is a professor in the College of Hotel and Tourism Management at Kyung Hee University, South Korea. His research includes valuation of ecotourism resources, sustainable tourism, and destination social responsibility. He has published more than 170 papers in internationally reputed journals.