Information systems & technology
Perceived usefulness scale: TAM, UTAUT
- Concept
- Perceived Usefulness
- Field
- Information systems & technology
- Scales in the library
- 4
- Items
- 17
Perceived usefulness is the degree to which a person believes that using a system will improve their job performance or life. Davis (1989) introduced the concept in TAM, and it is the strongest predictor of usage intention in many studies. UTAUT and UTAUT2 call the corresponding concept performance expectancy; ECM uses it for the post-adoption stage. Common thesis topics: e-wallets, digital banking, accounting software, online learning, AI tools.
Comparing the scales
| Scale | Author (year) | Items | Response format | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perceived Usefulness (PU) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale | Davis (1989) | 6 | Likert 7-point | Choose when the model follows TAM, especially for technology used at work; Davis's original 6 items. |
| Performance Expectancy (PE) UTAUT scale | Venkatesh et al. (2003) | 4 | Likert 7-point | Choose when the model follows UTAUT in organizations; 4 items, shorter than TAM. |
| Performance Expectancy (PE) UTAUT2 scale | Venkatesh et al. (2012) | 3 | Likert 7-point | Choose when the model follows UTAUT2 for consumers; items refer to daily life instead of work. |
| Perceived Usefulness (PU) IS continuance model (ECM) | Vedadi & Warkentin (2016) | 4 | Likert 7-point | Choose for an ECM model with existing users; the original items were written for personal finance management and need adapting to your context. |
Items of each scale
Original English wording from the published source. Replace placeholders such as [system] or
[brand] with what your study is about, and pilot the questionnaire with 20 to 30 respondents first.
Perceived Usefulness (PU) · Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| PU1 | Using [system] in my job would enable me to accomplish tasks more quickly. |
| PU2 | Using [system] would improve my job performance. |
| PU3 | Using [system] in my job would increase my productivity. |
| PU4 | Using [system] would enhance my effectiveness on the job. |
| PU5 | Using [system] would make it easier to do my job. |
| PU6 | I would find [system] useful in my job. |
Source: Davis (1989). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) scale.
Performance Expectancy (PE) · UTAUT scale
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| PE1 | I would find [system] useful in my job. |
| PE2 | Using [system] enables me to accomplish tasks more quickly. |
| PE3 | Using [system] increases my productivity. |
| PE4 | If I use [system], I will increase my chances of getting a raise. |
Source: Venkatesh et al. (2003). Response scale, licence and APA reference: UTAUT scale.
Performance Expectancy (PE) · UTAUT2 scale
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| PE1 | I find [mobile Internet] useful in my daily life. |
| PE3 | Using [mobile Internet] helps me accomplish things more quickly. |
| PE4 | Using [mobile Internet] increases my productivity. |
Source: Venkatesh et al. (2012). Response scale, licence and APA reference: UTAUT2 scale.
Perceived Usefulness (PU) · IS continuance model (ECM)
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| PU1 | Using [mobile banking applications] improves my performance in managing personal finances. |
| PU2 | Using [mobile banking applications] increases my productivity in managing personal finances. |
| PU3 | Using [mobile banking applications] enhances my effectiveness in managing personal finances. |
| PU4 | Overall, [mobile banking applications] is useful in managing personal finances. |
Source: Vedadi & Warkentin (2016). Response scale, licence and APA reference: IS continuance model (ECM).
Tips
- TAM and UTAUT items refer to work. For consumers or students, change 'work' to 'studying' or 'shopping' and state that you adapted it.
- There are no reverse-coded items. The original 7-point scale can be converted to a 5-point Likert.
- If the model has both perceived usefulness and performance expectancy, keep only one because the two overlap in content.
Once you have a scale, put the concept in the research model drawer to state your hypotheses, work out the minimum sample size, and after data collection check reliability with the Cronbach's alpha calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are perceived usefulness and performance expectancy different?
In content they are almost the same. Venkatesh et al. (2003) built performance expectancy from TAM's perceived usefulness and several similar concepts. Use whichever name fits the source model you chose.
How many items does the TAM PU scale have?
Davis's (1989) original has 6 items. Many studies use 4 items for brevity; if you shorten it, state which items you kept.
Why does perceived usefulness usually have the strongest effect?
Users mainly accept technology because it helps them work better. Davis (1989) and the meta-analysis of 88 studies by King and He (2006) show that the effect of usefulness on intention is stronger than that of ease of use.
References
- King, W. R., & He, J. (2006). A meta-analysis of the technology acceptance model. Information & Management, 43(6), 740–755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2006.05.003