Investigating Mobile Apps Post-Adoption Behaviour: A Grounded Theory Investigation

Lamichhane, Roshee, Ward, Philippa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4971-8908, Shrestha, Anup and Bhattacharjee, Biplab (2025) Investigating Mobile Apps Post-Adoption Behaviour: A Grounded Theory Investigation. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2518332 (In Press)

Text 15104 Lamichhane, R. et al. (2025) Investigating Mobile Apps Post-Adoption Behaviour - A Grounded Theory Investigation.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 23 June 2026. (Publisher Embargo). Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 4.0. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Research on information systems has often focused on various post-adoption behaviour, examining how users adapt to using IT artefacts. This study explores such post-adoption practices specifically for discontinuing mobile applications (apps) use. Instead of investigating a particular user’s behaviour, we focus on participants' lived experiences with discontinuing app use. We employed an inductive grounded theory research approach, collecting data through semi-structured interviews with 38 participants. We identified two key types of post-adoption behaviour, engagement practices comprising workaround and reframing and disengagement practices comprising discontinuance and deferring. Using Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (EDT), we demonstrated how negative disconfirmation can be managed through post-adoption behaviour. Our main theoretical contribution extends EDT to include a new category of disengagement practices called “deferring.” Our findings also provide valuable practitioner insights for app retention strategies.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Mobile apps; Post-adoption behaviour; Workaround; Reframing; Discontinuance; Deferring; Grounded theory
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business > HF5410 Marketing Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software > QA76.9 Other topics > QA76.9.H85 Human-computer interaction
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Philippa Ward
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2025 10:23
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2025 18:30
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15104

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