Factors influencing researchers' behavioral intention in using digitized Malay manuscripts at National Library of Malaysia

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the practice of researchers’ use of the digitized Malay manuscripts in Malaysia, examine the relationship between researchers’ behavioral intention to use the digitized Malay manuscripts and its related predictors, and identify the factors that indirectly influence the behavioral intention through its predictors. The research adopted Ajzen’s revised theory of planned behavior as a theoretical framework. The significance of this research develops from the fact that imparting an intention to use digitized Malay manuscripts among researchers is essential for their development, success, and competitiveness in their fields. Thus, this research is the first to address behavioral use intention of researchers in the context of utilization of digitized Malay manuscript collection in Malaysia. This research was designed using a quantitative approach employing two phases of the online survey using an internet-based questionnaire. Data were collected from 308 researchers in National Centre of Malay Manuscript at the National Library of Malaysia and were analyzed using both SPSS and PLS-SEM, SmartPLS 3.0 software. The analysis process involved assessment of the measurement model to evaluate its reliability and validity, an assessment of the structural model to assess its validity and test the research hypotheses. The results showed a significant extent of behavioral intention among researchers in using digitized Malay manuscripts and the perception towards information quality of the digitized Malay manuscripts is vital. Furthermore, the results revealed that attitude, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and controllability significantly influence researchers’ behavioral intention. Also, the results showed that attitude is positively influenced by remote access and download delay as motivators of behavioral intention to use; likewise, controllability is positively influenced by old Malay language literacy and digitized image quality as barriers of behavioral intention. This research sheds light on the applicability of the theory of planned behavior in use intention context and fills in the gap in the literature on the behavioral intention of digitized Malay manuscripts among researchers at Malay Manuscript Centre.