Developing and validating a model for assessing paid mobile learning app success

ABSTRACT

With the proliferation of paid mobile learning applications (m-learning apps), understanding how to assess their success has become an important issue for academics and practitioners. Based on the information systems (IS) success models and the value-based adoption model, this study developed and validated a multidimensional model for assessing paid m-learning app success. The proposed model describes the interrelationships among seven paid m-learning app success variables: system quality, information quality, perceived enjoyment, perceived fee, user satisfaction, intention to reuse, and learning effectiveness. Data collected from 160 paid m-learning app users were tested against the research model using structural equation modeling (SEM). The empirical findings provide evidence that learning effectiveness is affected by user satisfaction and intention to reuse, which, in turn, are determined by system quality, information quality, perceived enjoyment, and perceived fee. The findings of this study provide several important theoretical and practical implications for the development, implementation, and promotion of paid m-learning apps.

KEYWORDS:

• Paid mobile learning apps
• information system success model
• value-based adoption model
• intention to reuse
• learning effectiveness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Yu-Yin Wang is a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Information Management at the National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan. She received her Ph.D. in Information Management from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan. Her current research interests include mobile learning, technology upgrade model, and educational technology success. She has published papers in Information Technology & People, Internet Research, Behaviour & Information Technology, and International Journal of Information Management.

Yi-Shun Wang is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Information Management at the National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. in MIS from National Chengchi University, Taiwan. His current research interests include information and educational technology adoption strategies, IS success models, online user behavior, knowledge management, Internet entrepreneurship education, and e-learning. He has published papers in journals such as Academy of Management Learning and Education, Computers & Education, British Journal of Educational Technology, Information Systems Journal, Information & Management, International Journal of Information Management, Government Information Quarterly, Internet Research, Computers in Human Behavior, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Information Technology and People, Information Technology and Management, Journal of Educational Computing Research, among others. He is currently serving as a Convener of the research discipline of Applied Science Education in the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan.

Hsin-Hui Lin is a Professor and Head in the Department of Distribution Management at National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. She received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Her current research interests include electronic commerce, service marketing, and customer relationship management. Her work has been published in academic journals such as Academy of Management Learning & Education, British Journal of Educational Technology, Information & Management, Information Systems Journal, International Journal of Information Management, Internet Research, Managing Service Quality, Service Industries Journal, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Global Information Management, Information Systems and e-Business Management, and Journal of Educational Computing Research.

Tung-Han Tsai is a graduate student in the Department of Information Management at National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan. He received his bachelor's degree in Information Management from National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan. His current research interests include mobile learning, online entrepreneurship, and educational technology acceptance. He has ever served as a principal investigator of the university student project in the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan.

ORCID

Yi-Shun Wang http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0161-5520

Additional information

Funding

This research was substantially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology Taiwan under grant number MOST 104-2815-C-018-010-U.