An empirical investigation of factors influencing the adoption of data mining tools

Previous studies explored the adoption of various information technologies. However, there is little empirical research on factors influencing the adoption of data mining tools (DMTs), particularly at an individual level. This study investigates how users perceive and adopt DMTs to broaden practical knowledge for the business intelligence community. First, this study develops a theoretical model based on the Technology Acceptance Model 3, and then examines its perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and its ability to explain users’ intentions to use DMTs. The model's determinants include 4 categories: the task-oriented dimension (job relevance, output quality, result demonstrability, response time, and format), control beliefs (computer self-efficacy and perceptions of external control), emotion (computer anxiety), and intrinsic motivation (computer playfulness). This study also surveys the moderating effect of experience and output quality on the determinants of DMT adoption and use. An empirical study involving 206 DMT users was conducted to evaluate the model using structural equation modeling. Results demonstrate that the proposed model explains 58% of the variance. The findings of this study have interesting implications with respect to DMT adoption, both for researchers and practitioners.

► This study develops a theoretical model based on the Technology Acceptance Model 3.
► An empirical study involving 206 DMT users was conducted to evaluate the model.
► Results demonstrate that the proposed model explains 58% of the variance.