Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework
With the rapid development of mobile applications (apps), various types of mobile apps have become the main channels for smartphone interaction. The user’s app switching behavior in mobile search tasks has also received attention from academia. This article uses the push–pull–mooring (PPM) theoretic...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/989 |
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| author | Shaobo Liang Ziyi Wei |
| author_facet | Shaobo Liang Ziyi Wei |
| author_sort | Shaobo Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the rapid development of mobile applications (apps), various types of mobile apps have become the main channels for smartphone interaction. The user’s app switching behavior in mobile search tasks has also received attention from academia. This article uses the push–pull–mooring (PPM) theoretical model to determine the three influencing factors of push, pull, and mooring that affect user’s app switching behavior in mobile search. Data were collected from 374 respondents using a structural equation model. This study can deepen the understanding of app switching in user mobile search from the perspectives of information source selection, user information search path, etc. This study found that in terms of pushing factors, the complexity of search tasks positively affects users’ willingness to switch apps. In terms of pulling factors, the attractiveness of alternative products and users’ follow-up activities will positively affect their switching willingness. Meanwhile, inertia serves as a mooring variable to regulate the relationship between push-pull factors and user switching intentions. This research highlights key insights on user behavior, follow-up activities, and the role of switching costs and inertia, contributing to the broader literature on information-seeking behavior. It also provides actionable recommendations for app developers to enhance search experiences and retain users by integrating personalized, multi-modal features. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0dc6fff42b5d41f8af1bd3ff4f4cc9f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-0dc6fff42b5d41f8af1bd3ff4f4cc9f52024-11-26T17:51:17ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2024-10-01141198910.3390/bs14110989Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring FrameworkShaobo Liang0Ziyi Wei1Research Institute of Digital Commerce, Wuhan Technology and Business University, Wuhan 430065, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong KongWith the rapid development of mobile applications (apps), various types of mobile apps have become the main channels for smartphone interaction. The user’s app switching behavior in mobile search tasks has also received attention from academia. This article uses the push–pull–mooring (PPM) theoretical model to determine the three influencing factors of push, pull, and mooring that affect user’s app switching behavior in mobile search. Data were collected from 374 respondents using a structural equation model. This study can deepen the understanding of app switching in user mobile search from the perspectives of information source selection, user information search path, etc. This study found that in terms of pushing factors, the complexity of search tasks positively affects users’ willingness to switch apps. In terms of pulling factors, the attractiveness of alternative products and users’ follow-up activities will positively affect their switching willingness. Meanwhile, inertia serves as a mooring variable to regulate the relationship between push-pull factors and user switching intentions. This research highlights key insights on user behavior, follow-up activities, and the role of switching costs and inertia, contributing to the broader literature on information-seeking behavior. It also provides actionable recommendations for app developers to enhance search experiences and retain users by integrating personalized, multi-modal features.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/989mobile searchinformation search behaviorPPM modelswitching behavior |
| spellingShingle | Shaobo Liang Ziyi Wei Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework Behavioral Sciences mobile search information search behavior PPM model switching behavior |
| title | Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework |
| title_full | Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework |
| title_short | Understanding Users’ App-Switching Behavior During the Mobile Search: An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Push–Pull–Mooring Framework |
| title_sort | understanding users app switching behavior during the mobile search an empirical study from the perspective of push pull mooring framework |
| topic | mobile search information search behavior PPM model switching behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/989 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaoboliang understandingusersappswitchingbehaviorduringthemobilesearchanempiricalstudyfromtheperspectiveofpushpullmooringframework AT ziyiwei understandingusersappswitchingbehaviorduringthemobilesearchanempiricalstudyfromtheperspectiveofpushpullmooringframework |