Abstract
PURPOSE
To determine the relative impact of framing on employee intention to adopt wearable technology (eg, Fitbits) at work.
SETTING AND DESIGN
Posttest only online experiment utilizing a 2 (framing: organizational efficiency vs individual health) × 2 (financial incentive: absent vs present) between-subjects design.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants (N = 310) were 18 years or older, currently employed, and residing in the United States.
MEASURES
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) subscale on behavioral intent (modified for wearable technology).
ANALYSIS
Chi-square and between-subjects analysis of variance.
RESULTS
Participants receiving the organizational efficiency frame (M = 3.97) expressed significantly lower intention to adopt a wearable compared to the individual health frame (M = 4.37), F2,308 = 3.99, P = .047. Financial incentives had a positive effect on adoption intention (M = 4.39 with incentive, M = 3.95 no incentive), F2,308 = 4.46, P = .036. The main effects of frame and incentive were additive, with participants in the individual health with incentive condition (n = 78, M = 4.60) expressing the highest intention to adopt and organizational efficiency without incentive expressing the lowest adoption intention (n = 77, M = 3.80; P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS
Messaging emphasizing individual health benefits plus financial incentives might prove most successful when encouraging adoption of wearables at work.
Collapse