Title: An empirical analysis of user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using a search engine

Authors: Ramaraj Palanisamy; Weiwei Sha

Addresses: Department of Information Systems, The Gerald Schwartz School of Business, St. Francis Xavier University, 3090 Martha Drive, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada ' Citco (Canada) Inc., 5151 George Street, Halifax, B3J 1M5, NS, Canada

Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to explore major factors that influence user evaluation and use of search engines. A research model was evolved based on the literature review for the user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using a search engine. Research hypotheses were evolved to examine the various components of the model. In order to empirically test the model and hypotheses a questionnaire survey was administered to obtain responses from users of various search engines. The survey data was collected from 235 users who were university students and users of a local library. A statistical analysis was done on a total of 199 usable responses. The study results provide more insight into the user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using search engines, and the empirically tested model offers more practical implications for evaluating any search engine.

Keywords: search engines; search engine evaluation; user evaluations; evaluation criteria; survey method; user attitudes; intention to use.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2014.059751

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2014 Vol.15 No.3, pp.261 - 290

Published online: 07 Jun 2014 *

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