Is undergraduates’ adoption of the Internet of Things rational? The role of risk perception

Users’ intentions and behavior when using the Internet of Things (IoT) are essential issues in contemporary technology research. This research used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to predict undergraduates’ IoT use intention and behavior in the smart home context. A total of 412 undergraduates at four universities in Taiwan participated in this study. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach was utilized to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that undergraduates’ attitudes and subjective norms had a positive effect on their IoT use intention, which, in turn, had effects on their IoT use behavior. This study also found that undergraduates’ risk perception of behavioral control had a negative effect on their IoT use intention. In contrast, their perceived risk of behavioral control had a positive direct effect on their IoT use behavior. This research contributes to the current state of knowledge since the proposed model revealed that undergraduates’ adoption of the Internet of Things might not be entirely rational. Their risk perception of behavioral control might play particular role.