Factors Influencing Undergraduate Students' Attitude and Behavioral Intention to Use Library Social Media in Sichuan, China

Authors

  • Long Xia

Keywords:

Influencing Factors, Attitude, Behavioral Intention, Library Social Media

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the factors influencing undergraduate students' behavioral intentions to utilize library social media services in China, focusing on Academic Library WeChat Official Accounts (ALWCOA). Research design, data, and methodology: By integrating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB), this research introduces trust and compatibility as new variables. Data were collected from 500 undergraduates with over a year of experience using these services and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The results confirm that all hypotheses are supported, demonstrating positive and significant effects. Specifically, behavioral intention is directly influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence. additionally, trust and compatibility impact behavioral intention indirectly through the mediator of attitude. Social influence emerged as a direct predictor of behavioral intention, highlighting the importance of peer and societal factors in technology adoption. though an indirect factor, trust is vital in shaping positive attitudes toward ALWCOA usage. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity of creating a trustworthy environment and leveraging social networks to enhance user engagement. This research extends the UTAUT model's application to Academic Library WeChat Official Accounts, offering novel insights into user-centered design and operational strategies.

Author Biography

Long Xia

Ph.D. Candidate in Information Technology, Vincent Mary School of Science and Technology, Assumption University, Thailand.

References

Adewojo, A. A., & Mayowa-Adebara, O. (2016). Social media usage by library staff in academic libraries: The case of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, Nigeria. Information and Knowledge Management, 6(1), 1-7.

Ahmad, A. (2020). Predicting attitude of young Indian consumers toward brand pages over social media: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Public Affairs, 20(3), e2093. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2093

Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. Springer.

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational behaviour and human decision processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t

Akande, O. N., Badmus, T. A., Akindele, A. T., & Arulogun, O. T. (2020). Dataset to support the adoption of social media and emerging technologies for students’ continuous engagement. Data in Brief, 31, 105926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105926

Akporhonor, B. A., & Olise, F. N. (2015). Librarians’ use of social media for promoting library and information resources and services in university libraries in South-South Nigeria. Information and Knowledge Management (1st ed.). Delta state polytechnic.

AlAwadhi, S., & Al-Daihani, S. M. (2019). Marketing academic library information services using social media. Library Management, 40(3/4), 228-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/lm-12-2017-0132

Alhabash, S., & Ma, M. (2017). A tale of four platforms: Motivations and uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat among college students?. Social media+ society, 3(1), 2056305117691544. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305117691544

Alismaiel, O. A., Cifuentes-Faura, J., & Al-Rahmi, W. M. (2022). Social media technologies used for education: An empirical study on TAM model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Education.

Al-Mamary, Y. H., Shamsuddin, A., Abdul Hamid, N. A., & Al-Maamari, M. H. (2015). Adoption of Management Information Systems in Context of Yemeni Organizations: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Journal of Digital Information Management, 13(6), 11-35.

Alotaibi, F. A. A., Johnson, F., & Rowley, J. (2022). Google Scholar or University Digital Libraries: A comparison of student perceptions and intention to use. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 09610006221111197. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221111197

Al-Qaysi, N., Mohamad-Nordin, N., & Al-Emran, M. (2023). Developing a comprehensive theoretical model for adopting social media in higher education. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(7), 4324-4345. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2021.1961809

Al-Rahmi, A. M., Shamsuddin, A., Wahab, E., Al-Rahmi, W. M., Alturki, U., Aldraiweesh, A., & Almutairy, S. (2022). Integrating the role of UTAUT and TTF model to evaluate social media use for teaching and learning in higher education. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 905968.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.905968

Alsaleh, D. A., Elliott, M. T., Fu, F. Q., & Thakur, R. (2019). Cross-cultural differences in the adoption of social media. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 13(1), 119-140.

https://doi.org/10.1108/jrim-10-2017-0092

Alshalawi, A. S. (2019). An Investigation of the Adoption of Social Media Applications by Faculty Members at a Prominent University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1st ed.). Florida Institute of Technology.

Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological bulletin, 103(3), 411-423.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411.

Arif, M., & Mahmood, K. (2012). The changing role of librarians in the digital world: adoption of Web 2.0 technologies by Pakistani librarians. The Electronic Library, 30(4), 469-479. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211252184

Babbie, E., & Mouton, J. (2001). The Practice of Social Research (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.

Bélanger, F., & Carter, L. (2008). Trust and risk in e-government adoption. The journal of strategic information systems, 17(2), 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2007.12.002

Bianchi, C., & Andrews, L. (2018). Consumer engagement with retail firms through social media: an empirical study in Chile. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 46(4), 364-385. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-02-2017-0035

Brown, T. A., & Moore, M. T. (2012). Confirmatory factor analysis. Handbook of structural equation modeling, 361, 379.

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (1st ed.). Oxford university press.

Chang, S.-S., Lou, S.-J., Cheng, S.-R., & Lin, C.-L. (2015). Exploration of usage behavioral model construction for university library electronic resources. The Electronic Library, 33(2), 292-307. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-10-2013-0195

Chen, X., & Liu, Y. (2022). Factors influencing intentions to use library social media marketing accounts: taking the example of WeChat. The Electronic Library, 40(4), 376-392.

Chiang, H.-S. (2013). Continuous usage of social networking sites: The effect of innovation and gratification attributes. Online Information Review, 37(6), 851-871. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir-08-2012-0133

Chiparausha, B., Onyancha, O. B., & Ezema, I. J. (2022). Factors influencing the use of social media by academic librarians in Zimbabwe: a UTAUT model analysis. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 73(1/2), 142-160. https://doi.org/10.1108/gkmc-09-2021-015

Chisenga, J., & Chande-Mallya, R. (2012). Social media and professional networking: a case of information professionals in the SCECSAL region. the SCECSAL XXth Conference.

Choi, Y.-J., & Park, J.-W. (2020). Investigating factors influencing the behavioral intention of online duty-free shop users. Sustainability, 12(17), 7108. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177108

Chua, P. Y., Rezaei, S., Gu, M.-L., Oh, Y., & Jambulingam, M. (2018). Elucidating social networking apps decisions: Performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence. Nankai Business Review International, 9(2), 118-142. https://doi.org/10.1108/nbri-01-20170003

Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. (2014). Business research methods (1st ed.). Mcgraw-hill.

Cooper, P. G. (2016). Social media. Salem Press Encyclopedia, Research Starters, EBSCOhost.

Davies, M. B., & Hughes, N. (2014). Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative or quantitative methods (1st ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing.

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008

Delport, C., & Roestenburg, W. (2011). Quantitative data-collection methods: questionnaires, checklists, structured observation, and structured interview schedules. Research at grass roots. For the social sciences and human service professions, 2(3), 171-205.

Emery, J. (2008). All we do is chat: social networking for the electronic resource’s librarian. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 20(4), 205-209. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411260802554462

Farrell, A. M., & Rudd, J. M. (2009). Factor analysis and discriminant validity: A brief review of some practical issues. Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference 2009

Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: an introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wesley.

Fu, J., Farn, C., & Chao, W. (2006). Acceptance of electronic tax filing: A study of taxpayer intentions. Information & management, 43, 109-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2005.04.001

Gefen, D. (2000). E-commerce: the role of familiarity and trust. Omega, 28(6), 725-737.

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0305-0483(00)00021-9

Gray, D. E. (2021). Doing research in the real world. Doing research in the real world, 3(8), 1-100.

Grazioli, S., & Jarvenpaa, S. L. (2000). Perils of Internet fraud: An empirical investigation of deception and trust with experienced Internet consumers. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics-Part A: Systems and Humans, 30(4), 395-410. https://doi.org/10.1109/3468.852434

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.

Hansen, J. M., Saridakis, G., & Benson, V. (2018). Risk, trust, and the interaction of perceived ease of use and behavioral control in predicting consumers’ use of social media for transactions. Computers in Human Behavior, 80, 197-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.010

Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., & Mullen, M. R. (2008). Structural Equation Modelling: Guidelines for Determining Model Fit. The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 6, 53-60.

Howard, H. A., Huber, S., Carter, L. V., & Moore, E. A. (2018). Academic libraries on social media: Finding the students and the information they want. Information technology and libraries, 37(1), 8-18. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v37i1.10160

Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1998). Fit Indices in Covariance Structure Modeling: Sensitivity to Underparameterized Model Misspecification. Psychological Methods, 3, 424-453.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.3.4.424

Humaid, A. B., & Ibrahim, Y. M. (2019). The Examination of Factors Influencing Saudi Small Businesses¡ Social Media Adoption, by Using UTAUT Model. International Journal of Business Administration, 10(2), 96-114. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijba.v10n2p96

Hussain, A. (2015). Adoption of Web 2.0 in library associations in the presence of social media. Program, 49(2), 151-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog-02-2013-0007

Jöreskog, K. G. (1969). A general approach to confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis. psychometrika, 34(2), 183-202. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02289343

Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business horizons, 53(1), 59-68.

Khan, M. N., & Adil, M. (2013). Data analysis techniques in service quality literature: Essentials and advances. Serbian Journal of Management, 8(1), 95-112.

Khan, S. A., & Bhatti, R. (2012). Application of social media in marketing of library and information services: A case study from Pakistan. Webology, 9(1), 1-8.

Kim, K.-S., & Sin, S.-C. J. (2016). Use and evaluation of information from social media in the academic context: Analysis of gap between students and librarians. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(1), 74-82.

Kokab, S., Arif, M., & Qaisar, N. (2023). Factors affecting the university librarians’ use of social media technologies in Pakistan: A structural equation modelling approach. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(3), 102719.

Koukaras, P., Tjortjis, C., & Rousidis, D. (2020). Social media types: introducing a data driven taxonomy. Computing, 102(1), 295-340.

Lee, M. K., & Turban, E. (2001). A trust model for consumer internet shopping. International Journal of electronic commerce, 6(1), 75-91.

Lee, T. (2005). The impact of perceptions of interactivity on customer trust and transaction intentions in mobile commerce. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 6(3), 165.

Li, M., & Zhou, X. (2019). Research on the classification and supply priority of service content of university library WeChat public platform based on Kano model. Library and Information Service, 63(10), 39-47.

Lien, C. H., & Cao, Y. (2014). Examining WeChat users’ motivations, trust, attitudes, and positive word-of-mouth: Evidence from China. Computers in Human Behavior, 41, 104-111.

Mahmood, K., & Richardson, J. V. (2011). Adoption of Web 2.0 in US academic libraries: a survey of ARL library websites. Program, 45(4), 365-375.

Malhotra, N. K., & Dash, S. (2011). Marketing Research an Applied Orientation (1st ed.). Pearson Publishing.

McKnight, D., & Choudhury, V., & Kacmar, C. (2002). Developing and Validating Trust Measures for e-Commerce: An Integrative Typology. Information Systems Research, 13(3), 334-359. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.13.3.334.81

Mensah, M., & Onyancha, O. B. (2022). Ghanaian academic libraries’ use of social media: A structural equation modelling approach. Information Development, 38(2), 323-342.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666921999429

Moore, G. C., & Benbasat, I. (1991). Development of an instrument to measure the perceptions of adopting an information technology innovation. Information systems research, 2(3), 192-222. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2.3.192

Moorthy, K., Chun T'ing, L., Ming, K. S., Ping, C. C., Ping, L. Y., Joe, L. Q., & Jie, W. Y. (2019). Behavioral intention to adopt digital library by the undergraduates. International Information & Library Review, 51(2), 128-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/10572317.2018.1463049

Nain, H. (2021). Understanding Students’ Behavioural Intentions To Use Social Media Learning In Education: A Utaut Model Approach. 2021 International Conference on Computational Performance Evaluation (ComPE).

Nawaz, S. S., & Mubarak, K. (2020). Student entrepreneurs’ intention to adopt social media as a business platform: A Sri Lankan study. TEST ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, 82, 6031-6045

Netemeyer, R. G., Bearden, W. O., & Sharma, S. (2003). Scaling procedures: Issues and applications. Sage publications.

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). New York.

Nuseir, M., & Elrefae, G. (2022). The effect of social media marketing, compatibility, and perceived ease of use on marketing performance: Evidence from hotel industry. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 6(3), 885-894. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.2.008

Owusu, P. R., Asiedu, E. P., Ji, J., & Sarpong, F. A. (2022). Innovation and evaluation of technology acceptance model (Tam) in S-commerce: a case of social media platforms in Ghana. Journal of Computer and Communications, 10(3), 100-124. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcc.2022.103007

Pashootanizadeh, M., & Rafie, Z. (2020). Social media marketing: determining and comparing view of public library directors and users. Public Library Quarterly, 39(3), 212-228. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2019.1622395

Pertegal, M.-Á., Oliva, A., & Rodríguez-Meirinhos, A. (2019). Development and validation of the Scale of Motives for Using Social Networking Sites (SMU-SNS) for adolescents and youths. PloS one, 14(12), e0225781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225781

Phin, L. W. (2018). An Empirical Study of the Adoption of Social Media Marketing in the Higher Education Industry in Malaysia. information management, 2(7), 1-19.

Puriwat, W., & Tripopsakul, S. (2021). Explaining social Media adoption for a business purpose: An application of the UTAUT model. Sustainability, 13(4), 2082. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042082

Putra, Y. H. S. (2022). The adoption of social media for mobile commerce among micro entrepreneurs in Indonesia's retail industry. Journal of Global Information Management, 28(3), 184-203.

Rabia, M., Nawaz, H., Mubarak, N., & Ali, S. Z. (2019). Impact of Media on Academic Performance of College Students: A Case Study of Pakistani Government Colleges. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 429-442. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2019.73036

Rao, K. S., Subangi, M., & Malhan, I. (2019). Social Networks as a Platform for Academic Interaction: Possibilities and Challenges for Indian Academic Libraries. Asian Journal of Information Science & Technology (AJIST), 9(S1), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.51983/ajist-2019.9.s1.231

Rogers, E. M. (1983). Diffusion of Innovations. The Free Press of Glencoe.

Salahshour Rad, M., Nilashi, M., Mohamed Dahlan, H., & Ibrahim, O. (2019). Academic researchers’ behavioural intention to use academic social networking sites: A case of Malaysian research universities. Information Development, 35(2), 245-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666917741923

Salam, M. T., Imtiaz, H., & Burhan, M. (2021). The perceptions of SME retailers towards the usage of social media marketing amid COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 13(4), 588-605. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeee-07-2020-0274

Sawalha, S., Al-Jamal, M., & Abu-Shanab, E. (2019). The influence of utilising Facebook on e-government adoption. Electronic Government, an International Journal, 15(1), 1-20.

Schierz, P. G., Schilke, O., & Wirtz, B. W. (2010). Understanding consumer acceptance of mobile payment services: An empirical analysis. Electronic commerce research and applications, 9(3), 209-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2009.07.005

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. john wiley & sons.

Shah, G. J., & Khan, K. M. (2019). Use of social media tools by the academic libraries in Northern India: a study. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 9(1), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-5576.2019.00006.2

Shittu, T. A., & Taiwo, Y. H. (2023). Acceptance of WhatsApp social media platform for learning in Nigeria: A test of unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. Journal of Digital Educational Technology, 3(2), ep2309.

Soper, D. (2022, November 2020). A-priori sample size calculator for structural equation models. 2021. http://www.danielsoper.com/statcalc.

Straub, D. W. (1989). Validating instruments in MIS research. MIS Quarterly, 13(2), 147-169. https://doi.org/10.2307/248922

Taylor, S., & Todd, P. A. (1995). Understanding information technology usage: A test of competing models. Information systems research, 6(2), 144-176. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.6.2.144

Ternenge, T. S. (2019, May 23). Marketing Library and Information Resources and Services Using Social Media Platforms. Library Philosophy and Practice. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/228383261.pdf

Tornatzky, L. G., & Klein, K. J. (1982). Innovation characteristics and innovation adoption-implementation: A meta-analysis of findings. IEEE Transactions on engineering management, 29(1), 28-45. https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.1982.6447463

Unal, E., & Uzun, A. M. (2021). Understanding university students’ behavioral intention to use Edmodo through the lens of an extended technology acceptance model. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52(2), 619-637. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13046

Vanichbancha, K. (2003). Advanced statistical analysis with SPSS for Windows (3rd ed.). Chulalongkorn University Printing House.

Venkatesh, V., & Davis, F. D. (2000). A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four longitudinal field studies. Management science, 46(2), 186-204.

https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.46.2.186.11926

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425-478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540

Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y., & Xu, X. (2012). Consumer acceptance and use of information technology: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 157-178. https://doi.org/10.2307/41410412

Wen, Z. (2020). Consumer behavior in Mobile social media: A study of Chinese cosmetic buyers in WeChat. ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa (Portugal).

Williams, B., Onsman, A., & Brown, T. (2010). Exploratory factor analysis: A five-step guide for novices. Australasian journal of paramedicine, 8, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.33151/ajp.8.3.93

Williams, M. L. (2020). The adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in academic libraries: A comparative exploration. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 52(1), 137-149.

Williams, M. L. (2021). Students' perceptions of the adoption and use of social media in academic libraries: A UTAUT Study. Communication: South African Journal of Communication Theory and Research, 47(1), 76-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2021.1876123

Wu, J. H., & Wang, Y. M. (2006). Measuring KMS Success: A Respecification of the DeLone and McLean’s Model. Journal of Information & Management, 43, 728-739.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2006.05.002

Yuan, D., Rahman, M. K., Issa Gazi, M. A., Rahaman, M. A., Hossain, M. M., & Akter, S. (2021). Analyzing of user attitudes toward intention to use social media for learning. Sage Open, 11(4), 21582440211060784. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211060784

Zhang, C., Wu, W., & Wang, T. (2019). Analysis of the status of university libraries’ We chat public platforms in Zhejiang province. Research on Library Science, 16, 32-37.

Zhang, K., & Lu, P. X. (2023). What are the key indicators for evaluating the service satisfaction of WeChat official accounts in Chinese academic libraries? Library Hi Tech, 41(3), 788-806. https://doi.org/10.1108/lht-07-2021-0218

Zhu, Q. (2016). The application of social media in outreach of academic libraries’ resources and services: A case study on WeChat. Library Hi Tech, 34(4), 615-624.

https://doi.org/10.1108/lht-05-2016-0055

Downloads

Published

2025-09-29

How to Cite

Xia, L. (2025). Factors Influencing Undergraduate Students’ Attitude and Behavioral Intention to Use Library Social Media in Sichuan, China. Scholar: Human Sciences, 17(3), 233-244. Retrieved from https://assumptionjournal.au.edu/index.php/Scholar/article/view/8342