Date of Award

2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Skalski, Paul

Subject Headings

Social networks, Interpersonal communication, Diffusion of innovations, Lazy user theory, technology adoption, peer communication, diffusion of innovations

Abstract

This research examines individual adoption and use of communication technologies through a communication perspective by utilizing concepts from the lazy user theory of solution selection. The user state (individual technology use characteristics) and peer communication are hypothesized to predict switching costs (communication device satisfaction) and laziness. A survey of 687 individuals consisting of college students, Facebook, and Reddit.com users collected data later subjected to exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression. Factor analysis revealed four aspects of user state portable tech-ers, onliners, workers, and relationshipers three types of peer communicators conversationalists, web-referencers, and peer superiors and one type of switching cost, switchers. Three multiple regressions confirmed both hypotheses user state and peer communication account for 14.7 of the variance in switching costs and 11 and 9.9 of the variance in laziness. The study concludes that there are four factors,varying in importance, that an individual considers when adopting a communication device, and three primary strategies for seeking information about communication devices. Switching decisions and laziness are, to some extent, influenced by the user state and peer communication and future research should again examine concepts from the lazy user theory empirically

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