APPLYING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR TO THE STUDY OF ONLINE PUBLIC

ACCESS TO CATALOGUE (OPAC) ADOPTION

1.1. Background of Study

The study of adoption of technological tools in library services is significant in today’s internet
explosion. Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) has in recent time been a valuable tool for
libraries in general. It has become an equipment commonly used in libraries to automate services
to meet the needs of it users. In effect, it has come to revolutionize the card catalogue system that
existed. (Husain & Ansari, 2006) believe that the way OPAC User interface is presented can
influence its use.

OPAC has grown over the years from just simple queries on standalone Pcs to internet based
application and pluggable to other web applications. The outburst of technology has greatly
changed the face of libraries. By the year 2010, web 2.0 tools such as wikis,RSS feeds and blogs
had been incorporated into the OPAC system.(Peters, 2014).

None the less, research has indicated that users have reservations in the use of OPAC.(Sridhar,
2004) A study conducted on the frequency of usage of OPAC showed that, almost 40% of users
used the OPAC at the library almost every day.(R.Lakshmi Sankari, Dr.K.Chinnasamy, Dr. P.
Balasubramanian, 2013)
1.2.Theoretical Background
A lot of studies using quantitative research methods have been done on the application of the
Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to digital innovations. For example, the Theory of Planned
behavior has been used to identify the faculty intentions to teach public relations course online.
(Knabe, 2012) and in the study of user acceptance of video services on the internet. (Truong, 2009).
It has also been used to study the use of search engines as a tool for knowledge acquisition.(Liaw,
2004) In 2004, Hsu examined post-adoption cognitive factors that influences a person’s intention
to reuse electronic services.(Hsu & Chiu, 2004)
A more recent one used a combination of TPB and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to
analyze factors that aided to the intention of teachers to use a given online community(Liu, Chan,
Wang, & Pan, 2014).

It can be seen with studies that the application of TPB in research on the adoption of technology
has been successful. The current study intends to add to the growing body of literature of its
application with focus on Online Public Access to Catalogue.

1.3.Problem Statement
There is a continual need for theory-based scientific research as the acceptance and use of OPAC
increases, the opportunity for theory-based research also increases because of technological
advances. The body of literature in the field of study will grow if research is replicated with a
theory-based approach which will in turn increase the understanding of the phenomenon. An
intensive search into literature indicated no empirical literature on the application of theory based
research in the field of OPAC based Library systems and its use in Ghana. An attempt is made to
fill this literature gap.

1.4. Objective and Research Questions

This study is based on the Catholic University Library and predicts the usage of Online Public
Access Catalogue (OPAC), provided this act is intentional. The main objectives of this study are
to construct a model of users’ OPAC adoption by testing hypotheses and propose suggestions to
promote the acceptance of OPAC. This model is developed in this study to make an attempt to
expand the theory of adoption.

This objective can be realized in this research with the following research questions:
The Primary Research Question (PRQ) is:
What are the factors that influence user adoption of Online Public Access to catalogue and to what
extent do these factors influence its use and consequently, adoption?
1.5. Literature review
A number of research has been done in the application of Theory of Planned behavior to investigate
the adoption of technology. These have contributed in providing the underlying foundation for this
work. In this chapter, a review of (Ajzen, 1991) Theory of Planned Behaviour and The Theory of
Reasoned Action is given. The reason for this review is to create an understanding of the various
variables and constructs needed for this research. A review of competing models which includes
Technology Acceptance Model, Personal Computer Utilization Model and the Diffusion of
Innovations Model is also given. This is done to create a better understanding of the various models
that can also be used in the field of technology adoption study.

A justification of the use of Theory of Planned behavior as the preferred model for this research is
also realized in this chapter. An overview of literature concerning the adoption of Online Public
Access to Catalogue is also given to explain the need for more theory-based research in this area.
The research question and hypotheses for this research will be developed in conclusion to this
section.

1.6.Research Method
Using quantitative method makes it simpler to summarize collected data for analyses.
Two primary approaches to doing research include the use of Quantitative or Qualitative. This
study seeks to identify factors that course users to adopt the use of Online Public Access to
Catalogue in the Catholic University Library. This can be identified if a large amount of data can
be collected and studies. According to Ajzen, Quantitative method of analysis has been used since
the study is on technology adoption(Ajzen, 2002).
.
1.7.Research Design
Like most studies that use Theory of Planned Behaviour, this research used the Catholic University
of Ghana’s Library as the Case Study. Bromley (As cited in Zucker, 2009), defines a case study is
a stepwise investigation into a phenomenon to describe its interest. A census of students in the
University is used.(Office, 1995) also believes that, major characteristics of a case study lies in the
manner in which qualitative information among case participants are sorted, sifted and interpreted.
1.8.Data Collection
The main instrument used in this study was questionnaire which are crafted to conform to the
Theory of Planned Behaviour key constructs and proposed by (Ajzen, 2002). The ability for this
instrument to reduce bias is the basis for its choice. Questionnaires also makes it easier to give out
anonymous survey.

References:
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Ajzen, I. (2002). Constructing a TpB Questionnaire : Conceptual and Methodological
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Hsu, M.-H., & Chiu, C.-M. (2004). Predicting electronic service continuance with a decomposed
theory of planned behaviour. Behaviour & Information Technology, 23(5), 359–373.
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Knabe, A. (2012). Applying Ajzen â€TM s Theory of Planned Behavior to a Study of Online
Course Adoption in Public Relations Education.
Liaw, S.-S. (2004). The theory of planned behaviour applied to search engines as a learning tool.
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AND FACULTY MEMBERS OF UNNAMALAI INSTITUTE OF, 3(1), 17–26.
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