A Test of the Mobile Phone Appropriation Model

Abstract

This study tested the generalizability of the mobile phone appropriation model to the United States with the aim of enhancing theorization about mobile communication. Associations between the theoretical constructs in the model were examined with structural equation modeling and mediation analyses. Meta-communication was associated with all four dimensions of behavioral evaluations (i.e., functional, symbolic, normative, and restrictive). Some behavioral evaluations were associated with mobile phones’ usage patterns (i.e., functional and symbolic), with normative evaluations emerging as an important predictor of all usage aspects. These results shed light on the MPA theoretical framework, its parsimony, and potential revisions needed.

Keywords:

• Behavioral evaluations as mediators
• meta-communication
• MPA theoretical model
• normative evaluations

Acknowledgments

Data collection of this study was funded by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Junior Faculty Summer Fellowship at the University of Oklahoma.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. ab represents the unstandardized indirect effect value.

2. For all figures, the direct effect of X on Y is listed on the path; the total effect is listed in parentheses.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the College of Arts & Sciences, University of Oklahoma.

Notes on contributors

Sun Kyong Lee

Sun Kyong Lee (Ph.D., Rutgers University) examines socio-cultural antecedents and consequences of information and communication technology uses including mobile phones, social media, and artificial intelligent-based agents. Her research methods involve both quantitative and qualitative approaches such as social network analysis, experiment, survey, and interview. Her research frequently studies various ethnic and religious immigrant communities in their communication networks and their associations with intercultural development and civic/political engagement.

Ioana A. Cionea

Ioana's Dr. Cionea's research interests lie at the intersection of interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and quantitative research methods. She studies how individuals argue and/or engage in conflict in their interpersonal relationships and the effects culture or ethnicity have on these processes.). She has also worked on developing a new measure of arguing goals, refining models that explain how people decide to engage in arguments, and what dialogic strategies they use when arguing.