Exploring the Impact of Optimum Stimulation Level on Individual Perceptions of IT Innovations: A Trait Hierarchical Model Perspective

Given that IT innovations and their components as well as their characteristics can all be viewed as a stimulus, optimum stimulation level (OSL), a general personality trait that characterizes individuals' general need for stimulation, is a pertinent and important theoretical construct to information systems (IS) research. Despite its significance, OSL has remained seldom studied in the IS discipline. Its impact on individuals' responses in the interaction with IT innovations continues to be largely underexplored. Drawing on OSL theory, this study theorizes the positive effect of OSL on individuals' perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of IT innovations. Leveraging the trait hierarchical model and building upon the literature on technology acceptance model (TAM), personal innovativeness in information technology (PIIT), computer self-efficacy (CSE), and OSL theory, this study further theorizes the mediating effects of IT domain-specific traits, namely, PIIT and CSE, on the effect of OSL on PEOU and PU. Analysis of survey data on 383 social networking site users validates the theorized relationships. This study contributes to IS research on personality traits and adds to the trait hierarchical model by theorizing and empirically validating the nomological network of OSL with PIIT and CSE. Moreover, it contributes to the literature on IT adoption and use by linking OSL to TAM constructs. It also advances OSL research by uncovering the influence mechanisms of OSL on PEOU and PU. Furthermore, this study provides a holistic understanding of the relationships among PIIT, CSE, and PEOU.