What matters most? Investigating the role of perceived risk and trust in the acceptance of social networks for political communication. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kollmann, Tobias; Kayser, Ina; Stöckmann, Christoph
• Is Part Of: Electronic government. Volume 11:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 306
• Page End: 321
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: e-participation -- perceived risk -- trust -- social networks -- TAM -- technology acceptance model -- electronic government -- e-democracy -- Facebook -- political communication -- electronic participation -- online participation -- e-government -- electronic democracy -- social exchange theory -- interpersonal effects -- usage behaviour -- political participation; Internet in public administration -- Periodicals; 352.380285467805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-7494

Abstract

The use of social networks for political purposes has attracted much academic attention. The aim of this research is to discover the role of perceived risk and trust in the acceptance of social networks for e-participation. We use the established technology acceptance model (TAM), but also build on social exchange theory to incorporate the interpersonal effects perceived risk and trust. These interpersonal effects come into play in the context of the social web and are not considered in TAM. First, we test a model that incorporates perceived risk, and second, we add trust to the risk considerations to reveal whether one of these two has a greater influence on acceptance. We thereby reveal the multiple facets of trust and risk that significantly influence usage behaviour. Our study adds to the multi-disciplinary nature of the field of electronic government research by merging research on IS acceptance, social networks, and political participation.