Lesson 6
Defense Prep
TAM & Feedback
Explain user acceptance results and qualitative findings
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and qualitative feedback are secondary results — but examiners may ask about them. Know what they measure and what they don't.
Technology Acceptance Model
What TAM Measures
TAM (Davis, 1989) measures two constructs on a 5-point Likert scale:
- Perceived Usefulness (PU): "Do users think this tool helps them learn?"
- Perceived Ease of Use (PEoU): "Do users think this tool is easy to use?"
Acceptance threshold: mean score ≥ 3.5 (midpoint of 5-point scale).
Perceived Usefulness
PU
≥ 3.5 threshold
Perceived Ease of Use
PEoU
≥ 3.5 threshold
Both constructs were above the acceptance threshold, suggesting positive initial acceptance.
What to Say About TAM
Safe claim: "Participants reported positive initial acceptance of Yomilink on both Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use constructs. However, this result should be treated as an early usability signal because the perception data was collected within an early-stage pilot setting."
What NOT to Say About TAM
- ✗ "The platform is user-friendly and ready for deployment"
- ✗ "Students found it easy to use" (too general — they found it perceived easy to use)
- ✗ "The high TAM scores prove the platform works" (TAM ≠ effectiveness)
Why TAM Is an "Early Signal"
Several factors limit how strongly you can interpret TAM results:
- Small sample (n=10 respondents — verify this is still current)
- Collected immediately after use (no delayed measurement)
- Participants may have been influenced by novelty or social desirability
- No comparison with alternative tools
- Single-group study context (no control for demand characteristics)
Qualitative Feedback
Your study collected open-ended feedback about Yomilink. Here's how to frame it:
Thematic Analysis
You used thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to identify themes from qualitative responses. Key themes:
- Positive: Yomilink helped them learn Japanese (most common positive theme)
- Difficulty: Initial confusion about interface/task flow (most common difficulty)
- Suggestion: Add more vocabulary and practice materials
How to Present Qualitative Results
Qualitative results support but do not prove. They provide context for the quantitative findings. Frame them as:
"Qualitative feedback indicated that participants generally found Yomilink helpful for learning Japanese, with the most common positive theme being [X]. The most frequently reported difficulty was [Y]. These findings suggest initial acceptance but should be interpreted with caution given the small sample and pilot context."
Key Questions and Answers
Why was TAM response count so low?
The TAM questionnaire was part of the final phase of the online session. Some participants may not have completed all phases, or there may be pending responses. The current count should be verified from the data before final reporting.
Can you claim Yomilink is easy to use based on TAM?
Only that participants perceived it as easy to use, based on their self-reported ratings above the 3.5 threshold. Perceived ease of use is a subjective measure — it doesn't mean the platform is objectively easy to use, only that users' perception was positive in this pilot context.
How does TAM relate to the main research questions?
TAM is a secondary result that addresses the feasibility of the platform, not the effectiveness of Kit-Build. It answers "can this platform be used by beginners?" not "does Kit-Build improve reading?" The main research questions focus on reading comprehension score direction and the relationship between Kit-Build scores and comprehension change.