Online Knowledge Communities, also known as online forum, are popular web-based tools that allow members to seek and share knowledge. Documents to answer varieties of questions are associated with the process of knowledge exchange. The social network of members in an Online Knowledge Community is an important factor to improve search precision. However, prior ranking functions don't handle this kind of document with using this information. In this study, we try to resolve the problem of finding authoritative documents for a user query within an Online Knowledge Community. Unlike prior ranking functions which consider either content based feature, hyperlink based feature, or document structure based feature, we explored the Online Knowledge Community social network structure and members social interaction activities to design features that can gauge the two major factors affecting user knowledge adoption decision: argument quality and source credibility. We then design a customized Genetic Algorithm to adjust the weights for new features we proposed. We compared the performance of our ranking strategy with several others baselines on a real world data www.vbcity.com/forums/. The evaluation results demonstrated that our method could improve the user search satisfaction with an obviously percentage. At the end, we concluded that our approach based on knowledge adoption model and Genetic Algorithm is a better ranking strategy in the Online Knowledge Community. / Master of Science

Utvecklingen och intresset för mobila träningsapplikationer har växt markant de senaste åren och tusentals träningsapplikationer kan idag återfinnas på marknaden. Samtidigt har människor världen över blivit allt mer inaktiva vilket riskerar att leda till stora konsekvenser för individens hälsa och välmående. Mobila träningsapplikationer har visats ha stor potential för att lösa detta problem genom en ökad tillgänglighet och anpassning till användarens förutsättningar och behov. Ett flertal av de applikationer som finns på marknaden idag kan ses anta ett flertal strategier för att öka användarens engagemang och motivation till användning. Vilka dess värde och faktiska effekt har dock visats vara både omtvistat och outforskat. Denna studie undersöker och belyser vad som påverkar användarens motivation att använda en mobil träningsapplikation och hur dessa typer av applikationer kan utformas för att främja användarens engagemang och vilja att använda. För att undersöka detta genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer med personer som hade erfarenhet av att använda träningsapplikationer som stöd i sin träning. Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption Model och tidigare forskning inom motivation, sociala influenser och användarupplevelse verkade som teoretiskt ramverk och avsåg belysa relevanta faktorer studien avsåg att fördjupa sig inom. Det teoretiska ramverket verkade även som underlag för utformning av relevanta intervjufrågor och vid analys av erhållen empiri. Det empiriska resultatet belyser behov av enkelhet och användarnytta. En hög användarnytta kan även ses bidra till att användaren knyter ett starkare band till appen vilket ökat motivationen att fortsätta använda. Resultatet visar även på att informanterna finner ett stort värde i att följa sin fysiska utveckling över tid och erbjudas stöd för att upprätthålla stabilitet i träning snarare än att nå konkreta mål. Social funktionalitet såsom att följa och jämföra sin fysiska aktivitet med andra användare visar sig även ha en betydande inverkan på informanternas engagemang och användning av applikationen. I överensstämmande med tidigare forskning verkar dock värdet av sociala funktioner vara beroende av förhållandet användaren har till de andra användarna och dess närhet. Baserat på det teoretiska ramverket och empiriska utfallet presenteras designkriterier för framtida utformning av mobila träningsapplikationer som kan främja användarens engagemang och motivation att använda. / The development of digital support tools and applications for physical activity is growing quickly, and today there are thousands of mobile applications on the market aimed to support the user’s physical exercise. At the same time, there is a rising trend of a sedentary lifestyle with a lack of exercise which has had a negative impact on the population’s health and wellbeing over the last years. Fitness applications are broadly used today and have shown to have a potential in solving this problem. However, the actual benefit of these tools from a user’s perspective is yet under-studied. This study aims to identify what affects user’s motivation when using a fitness application and how these types of applications can be designed to increase user’s engagement. As a theoretical foundation, Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption Model and previous research in motivation, social influences, and user experience were explored to formulate relevant interview questions and guide the analysis of the empirical data. Through qualitative interviews insights from users with experience of using fitness applications as support in their physical exercise are gathered. The results show that ease of use and usefulness was important for most of the informants and that the users found a high value in tracking their physical exercise and development over time. The empirical data also indicate that gaining help to maintain stability rather than setting up concrete goals was perceived as more valuable. Social functionality such as following and comparing one's physical activity with others is also shown to have a significant impact on one's use and involvement in the application. However, consistent with previous research, the value of social features seemed to be dependent on the relation the user has with the other users. Based on the empirical findings design guidelines for development of fitness apps are proposed.

Barn med Spinal muskelatrofi lever ett liv med begränsad rörlighet. Deras vardag innehåller att mycket träning med syfte att kunna leva ett bättre liv. I vår digitala värld finns det idag många digitala spel som syftar till träning, exempelvis Nintendo Wii-spel och det populära spelet Just Dance. Utan att vi tänker på det, tränar vi kroppen medan vi utför spelets olika moment. Men hur kan barn bibehålla motivation och hur kan immersion uppstå för att barn ska glömma rum och tid när dem tränar? Vi har i vår studie samarbetat med företaget Nordic Forest Games, som på uppdrag av ett läkemedelsföretag, utvecklar ett mobilspel för barn med Spinal muskelatrofi. Vi har undersökt vilka egenskaper ett digitalt spel bör ha för att inte upplevs som enbart träning. I studien deltar två fysioteraputer och fyra föräldrar med syfte att beskriva sina upplevelser kring deras barns vardag och hur träning och motivation upplevs. Vid analys av data har teorin Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM) tillämpats för att kunna ringa in vilka olika områden som är central hos barnen för att uppleva immersion och motivation. Resultatet i studien är inte generaliserbart på grund av dels det låga antalet deltagare i studien och dels med tanke på att Spinal muskelatrofi är en ovanlig sjukdom av stor variation och mycket individuell. Utan att kunna dra någon generell slutsats har vi kunnat urskilja delar som är intressanta att studera vidare när det gäller tävlingsmoment och inkludering. Av företaget fick vi även tillgång till en prototyp av spelet. För att utvärdera prototypen gjordes en heuristisk utvärdering i enlighet med att finna användbarhetsproblem genom att se på prototypen genom Nielsens tio heuristiska riktlinjer. Med dessa två kvalitativa metoder har studien antagit en kvalitativ ansats där resultaten sedan kopplats samman med teorin HMSAM. / Children with spinal muscular atrophy live a life of limited mobility. Their everyday life includes a lot of exercise with the goal of being able to live a better life. In our digital world today, there are many digital games aimed at training, such as Nintendo Wii games and the popular game Just Dance. Without thinking about it, we train the body while performing the various steps of the game. But how can children maintain motivation and how can immersion occur for children to forget space and time when they exercise? In our study, we collaborated with the company Nordic Forest Games, which on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, develops a mobile game for children with spinal muscular atrophy. We have investigated what qualities a digital game should have in order not to be perceived as just training. Two physiotherapists and four parents participate in the study with the aim of describing their experiences of their children's everyday life and how exercise and motivation are experienced. When analyzing data, the Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM) theory has been applied in order to be able to delineate which different areas are central to children in order to experience immersion and motivation. The result of the study is not generalizable due partly to the low number of participants in the study and partly given that Spinal muscular atrophy is an unusual disease of great variety and very individual. Without being able to draw any general conclusions, we have been able to distinguish parts that are interesting to study further in terms of competition elements and inclusion. The company also gave us access to a prototype of the game. To evaluate the prototype, an heuristic evaluation was made in accordance with finding usability problems by looking at the prototype through Nielsen's ten heuristic guidelines. With these two qualitative methods, the study has adopted a qualitative approach where the results are then linked to the theory HMSAM.

Informationsintag har blivit lättare i och med internets tillkomst. För att göra upplevelsen mer uppslukande, rolig och interaktiv har nya designkoncept på webbplatser utvecklats. Ett sådant designkoncept är tredimensionella virtuella världar. Den tredimensionella virtuella värld designen på webbplatser används flitigt inom utbildnings- och hälsovårdssektorerna, men det saknas forskning inom andra sektorer som riktas till målgrupper som äldre och personer med lägre teknisk kompetens. Syftet med studien i denna kandidatuppsats är alltså att undersöka hur lantbrukare upplever nyttan av en webbplats som är designad utifrån en virtuell tredimensionell värld för jordbrukssektorn. För att genomföra denna studie har en agronomiwebbplats utformad som en tredimensionell värld tagits som exempel och undersökts. För detta togs en kvalitativ ansats, där data samlades in genom individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer och observationer i form av användbarhetstester med utvalda deltagare i form av intressenter från lantbruksföretaget och äldre lantbrukare. Den insamlade datan analyserades tematiskt vilket mynnade ut i tre huvudteman, inklusive flera underteman, som representerar resultaten. Fynden diskuterades med hjälp av relevant litteratur, som innefattar begrepp som användarupplevelse, användbarhet och Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption theory. Resultatet visade att upplevelsen är unik och rolig, men att det finns tydliga användbarhetsproblem inom webbplatsen, vilket hindrar användare från att vilja använda webbplatsen för dagligt bruk. Denna studie förmedlar en djupare förståelse för användarens upplevelse av tredimensionella virtuella världar och hur produktutvecklare bör hänvisa till designprinciper i användbarhet och användarupplevelse. / Information intake has become easier with the advent of the internet. To make the experience more immersive, fun and interactive, new design concepts on websites have been developed. One such design concept is three-dimensional virtual worlds. The three-dimensional virtual world design on websites is used widely in education and healthcare sectors, however there is lack of research in other sectors that address target groups such as elderly and people with lower technical proficiency. Thus, the purpose of the bachelor’s thesis research is to examine how farmers experience the usefulness of a website which is designed based on a virtual three-dimensional world for the agricultural sector. To conduct this study, an agronomy website designed as a three-dimensional world has been taken as an example and researched. For this, qualitative research was conducted, where data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and observations in the form of usability tests with purposely selected research participants, stakeholders of the agricultural company and elderly farmers. The collected data was analyzed thematically to conclude three main findings, including several sub-themes, which represent the research findings. The findings were discussed with the help of relevant literature, which included concepts such as user experience and usability, and the Hedonic-Motivation System Adoption theory. The research findings showed that the experience is unique and fun, but that clear usability problems exist within the website, which prevents users from wanting to use the website for daily use. This study conveys a deeper understanding of users' experience of threedimensional virtual worlds and how practitioners should refer to design principles in usability and user experience.

The integration of disabled children into regular schools is a current educational and social issue causing widespread interest, concern and debate throughout Australia. The most controversial and innovative adoption of integration policy has occurred in Victoria since the release of the Collins Report in 1984. The present study was conducted in 26 State primary schools in the Bendigo area of the Loddon Campaspe Mallee region of Victoria where disabled children had been integrated in regular classrooms with the assistance of a paid teacher aide during 1988. The purpose of the study was to survey the concerns of those teachers into whose classes children with disabilities had been integrated. The Stages of Concern (SoC) dimension of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (C-BAM) was chosen as the research methodology. C-BAM was developed at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education, University of Texas at Austin, and for the purpose of this study, the methodology consisted of a questionnaire of 35 standardized items (the Stages of Concern Questionnaire), and a School Survey. The study set out to identify the concerns of teachers (ii) toward integration, and to establish reasons why teachers are at particular stages of concern. Factors included teachers' age, gender, number of years of teaching experience, qualifications and in-service training. Other issues related to the disabled children themselves, the school, and factors such as availability of resources, funding levels, and access to support systems. This study developed from the policy document Integration in Victorian Education (the Collins Report, 1984). Since then, the Ministry of Education has published two additional booklets (in January and February, 1987), which partly address some of the issues included in this thesis. These include resourcing, in-servicing and the legal implications of the innovation. The analysis of the data points to major shortcomings which will jeopardize the implementation process and the likely success of the innovation. A number of recommendations have been suggested, with particular reference to the pre-service and in-service training of teachers, and issues relating to funding and resources. The findings have implications for all classroom teachers, as potentially all are required to accept disabled children into their classes. The results and recommendations also have relevance for the Ministry of Education, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the integration of disabled children into regular classes is fully supported at a government level, and for training institutions, whose task it is to provide appropriate pre-service and in-service programs for present and future classroom teachers.

The influence of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on consumers’ purchase intentions has long been known. However, the emergence of social media has brought a new perspective to eWOM through enabling users to communicate with their existing networks on the Internet. On social media, conversely to the other online platforms, users are able to exchange their opinions and experiences about products or services with familiar people, which refers to people who they already know such as friends and acquaintances. This new way of eWOM has the potential for greater impact on consumers. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine the influence of eWOM in social media on consumers’ purchase intentions. To do so, the research in this thesis involved two major phases. In the first phase, in order to explore the determinants of eWOM information on social media which influences consumers’ purchase intentions, a theoretical model was developed based on the integration of Information Adoption Model (IAM) and related components of Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The new model, which is named as Information Acceptance Model (IACM), was validated through structural equation modelling (SEM) based on surveys of 384 social media users in the UK. The results have highlighted that quality, credibility, usefulness and adoption of information, needs of information and attitude towards information are the key factors for eWOM in social media which influence consumers’ purchase intentions. Furthermore, to provide better understanding of the influence of eWOM on social media, the second phase of this research was designed as a comparative study. To explore whether the eWOM between familiar people on social media or the eWOM between anonymous people on other online platforms was more influential on consumers’ purchase intentions, the data collected through survey was reanalysed with a different perspective; and a comparison was conducted based on multiple regression analysis. The results have revealed significant differences and found anonymous reviews to be more influential on consumers’ purchase intentions than friends’ recommendations on social media. However, since these results were contrary to expectations, 10 in-depth interviews were also administered to enlighten the insightful results found through the survey. The interview findings uncovered the survey results. Information quantity, information readiness, detailed information, and dedicated information were discovered as the factors which make online reviews superior than friends’ recommendations in terms of the influence of eWOM. This research contributes to theoretical implications through its validated model and found key dimensions. The research model, IACM, brings a new approach to information adoption by extending IAM and provides new insights to researchers who study Information Systems (IS). In addition, the model highlights the information adoption process as an antecedent of behavioural intention, which is a very important finding for the related literature. Future studies can build new models through considering this relationship between information adoption process and behavioural intention. Moreover, the second phase of this research provides new constructs for future studies through its qualitative findings. The findings reached through in-depth interviews, which explain why consumers prefer anonymous online reviews, can either be tested as components of new theories and models or they can be tested as inclusion of existing theories and models. Both types have potential to provide valuable results for the literature. On the other hand, in terms of practicality, this research provides marketers with a frame of reference to understand the influence of eWOM in social media on consumers’ purchase intentions. Both the contextual and the comparative studies in this research offer valuable insights for marketers; marketers thus can develop better strategies for marketing on social media.

Svenska offentliga organisationer har behov av ärendehanteringssystem för att hantera offentlighetskraven som ställs på dem. En flora av sådana system finns, men det saknas anpassade metoder för att införa dessa, vilket kan resultera i misslyckade investeringar och brister i organisationernas måluppfyllelse. Denna studie föreslår därför en modell för införande av ärendehanteringssystem, som ska ge organisationerna det stöd de behöver i införandeprojekten. Studien utfördes genom en kvalitativ metod grundad på design science research där även element av action research ingick. De fyra forskningsfaserna som ingick var en intervjustudie, en litteraturstudie, framtagande av en införandemodell och utvärdering av modellen. En modell för införande av ärendehanteringssystem kallad NOKI-modellen togs fram, vilken grundade sig på tidigare forskning samt på de problem som upplevdes hos två svenska offentliga organisationer. Modellen utvärderades genom att appliceras på ett systeminförande hos de två organisationerna. Organisationerna var över lag nöjda med resultatet av införandet enligt NOKI-modellen, och uppfattade att modellen var ett bra stöd som även kunde ha ett värde för andra organisationer vid liknande systeminföranden. De lärdomar som drogs genom att utvärdera NOKI-modellens tydlighet, innehåll och implementationsvärde ledde till en föreslagen uppdaterad version kallad NOKIv2 som dock inte har utvärderats inom studien. Inga etiska problem med studien har kunnat identifieras då den ställts mot de kriterier som gäller för svensk forskning. En samhällelig aspekt med studiens resultat är att offentliga organisationer som, med hjälp av NOKI-modellen, genomför ett lyckat införande av ett ärendehanteringssystem sedan bättre kan uppfylla sina offentlighetskrav. Studiens resultat och slutsatser förmodas vara värdefulla för organisationer som skall införa ett ärendehanteringssystem samt för forskare som studerar införandeprocesser. / Swedish public organizations have a need for recordkeeping systems to handle the legal requirements placed on them. A flora of such systems exists, but there is a lack of properly adapted methods for adopting these systems, which can result in failed investments and lack of fulfillment of the organizational goals. The thesis was done through a qualitative method based on design science research where elements of action research also were present. The four phases of the thesis were a practical study, a theoretical study, the creation of a model for system adoption and finally an evaluation of the model. A model for the adoption of record keeping systems called the NOKI-model was created, which was based on earlier research as well as on the problems that were perceived by two Swedish public organizations. The model was evaluated by applying it on a system adoption project in the two organizations. The two organizations were generally pleased with the results of the system adoption through the NOKI-model, and perceived that the model was useful and that it also should have a value for usage by other organizations when doing similar system implementations. The lessons learned by evaluating the clarity, content and value of implementation of the NOKI-model led to an updated version called NOKIv2 which has not been evaluated within this thesis. No ethical problems could be identified in the study, when placed against the criteria that apply for Swedish research. A societal aspect with the results of the thesis is that public organizations that, using the NOKI-model, successfully adopt a record keeping system will be better equipped to fulfill their requirements of public availability. The results and conclusions of the thesis are presumed to be valuable for organizations that are about to adopt a record keeping system, as well as for researchers that are studying system adoption processes.

New technologies are constantly introduced in our everyday life. Societies and people have reaped great benefits from integrating information technology into a plethora of societal and commercial functions. However, innovations are not unconditionally accepted by users. Since digital innovations constantly are introduced to aid us, there is an interest in understanding what factors would either influence us or make us prone to adopt new technologies. The main research question is to identify the key influences, both positive and negative, within technology adoption. The scope was limited to Scandinavian supermarkets and the technology of adoption intention was the Smart Cart; a seamless approach to make your shopping experience easier. Through a value-based acceptance model (VAM), a quantitative survey was conducted to explore consumers, attitudes towards Smart Cart through the factors perceived usefulness (PU), perceived enjoyment (PE), perceived privacy risk (PPR) and perceived difficulty to use (PDU), in relation to the perceived value (PV) of the product which can eventually lead to intention to adopt and use(IAU). The findings showed that perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived enjoyment (PE) demonstrated a strong positive correlation to potential users’ perceived value (PV) of Smart Cart while perceived privacy risk (PPR) showed a weak negative and perceived difficulty to use (PDU) showed a medium-strong positive correlation to potential consumers’ perceived value (PV) of the product. Potential consumers’ perception of Smart Cart’s value (PV) showed a strong positive correlation with intention to adopt and use (IAU).

Although Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolsets present enterprises with a significant amount of business benefits, such as improved enterprise communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation; nevertheless, enterprises are still facing tremendous challenges in promoting and sustaining end-user adoption. The challenges associated with the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies can often be linked to a resistance to change, a closed culture environment, and concerns pertaining to information security, technology complexity, as well as an unclear enterprise collaboration technology strategic roadmap. The primary objective of this study was to determine how generic guiding principles could facilitate the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies within an enterprise environment. In support of the primary objective, our sub-objectives were to identify the challenges that enterprises, as well as enterprise end-users experience when adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies, as well as to explore and describe the critical success factors for adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies. A case study technique was used to gather the data from a large South African information and communications technology (ICT) enterprise operating within the retail sector based in Johannesburg. Enterprise end-users that formed part of the case study were selected by using purposive sampling. The end-users were selected, based on their experience, project sponsorship, as well as the project-participation roles performed in the adoption of their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on three (3) end-users, comprising a business analyst, a technology specialists and a senior executive. Furthermore, administered questionnaires were completed by five (5) end-users, who actively use their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset on a daily basis, performing operational, as well as business administrative tasks. This study used a qualitative research approach. Since validity forms a vital role in any qualitative study, this research study incorporated three validity approaches, including: the theoretical, internal and external approaches. The theoretical and external validity approaches were used to validate the identified guiding principles through a systematic review of the existing literature, as well as reviews and comments obtained from two subject-matter experts representing independent enterprises. Furthermore, internal validity was employed to complement and substantiate the research findings, consisting of project documents and reports made available by the enterprise. The main contribution in this research study is a set of ten (10) guiding principles that could be applied by enterprises either planning to, or in the process of adopting an Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Furthermore, the guiding principles could assist enterprises in formulating a Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology adoption strategy, incorporating key adoption elements, including commitment, promotion and sustainability. / Computing

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction / Rosemary Talab / The purpose of this study was to investigate concerns regarding the adoption of online teaching as expressed by faculty and instructors in six departments in the College of Arts and Humanities at King Abdulaziz University. Additionally, it investigated faculty professional development needs in adopting online teaching. The data in this study were obtained from 147 faculty members (response rate 63.9%). A non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was used, incorporating the Stages of Concern Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using quantitative measures (descriptive data analysis and inferential analysis). This study utilized the Concerns Based Adoption Model as its theoretical framework. King Abdulaziz University faculty Stages of Concerns findings showed a mean score percentile of 87% of them as Unconcerned. The Informational stage showed a mean score percentile of 72%, and the Personal stage was the third highest with a mean score percentile of 70%. Refocusing, Collaboration, and Management were the fourth, fifth, and sixth highest stages of concern. The Consequence stage was the lowest stage of concern. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire had concerns that were generally aligned to nonusers or users who sometimes implement parts of online teaching. The data analysis regarding the participants’ personal characteristics indicated that their concerns in adopting online teaching were not influenced by their age, country of graduation, or years of teaching experience. A statistically significant difference was found in the participant concerns in adopting online teaching by gender, p<.05. The significance differences were found in stage one (Informational) (p<.05), stage two (Personal) (p<.01), and stage six (Refocusing) (p<.001). Likewise, the data analysis regarding the participants’ contextual characteristics indicated that their concerns in adopting online teaching were not influenced by their department or academic rank. A statistically significant difference was found in the participants’ concerns in adopting online teaching based on administrative support, p<.05. The significances were found in stages zero (Unconcerned) (p<.05) and three (Management) (p<.01). The data analysis regarding the technographic characteristics also indicated a statistically significant influence of participants' prior instructional technology use and technology-related professional development on their use of technology in teaching. The significance values were .000, .006, .009, and .030. The study concludes with recommendations for King Abdulaziz University regarding faculty adoption of online teaching and recommendations for future studies focused on professional development programs and the adoption of online teaching in King Abdulaziz University as well as in other Saudi universities.