How does Identity Theory contribute to the Continuance Use of E-learning: The mediating role of Inertia and moderating role of computer Self-efficacy.

Despite e-learning's rapid growth and significant benefits, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, retaining students in this educational environment is a critical challenge in the post-corona era. Therefore, our research was conducted to explore how we can promote the continuance use of e-learning (CUEL) platforms. More specifically, this study examines how identity, inertia, and computer self-efficacy affect CUEL. Data were collected from 384 users and provided support for the model. The results indicated that social identity, relational identity, and inertia are critical determinants of CUEL. Furthermore, inertia mediates the relation between social identity and CUEL. In addition, we found that computer self-efficacy moderates the relation of inertia and relational identity with CUEL, but its moderating effect on the influence of social identity and CUEL is not supported. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

The role of students' relational identity and autotelic experience for their innovative and continuous use of e-learning.

Over the last decades, using e-learning systems as an alternative format of education for traditional classroom has been growing in higher education and due to COVID-19 pandemic, this transition has been unprecedently accelerated. Although there is a large body of research on e-learning, little is known about the extent to which innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems can be influenced by students' social and motivational factors especially their relational identity and autotelic experience. This study collected data from 400 higher education students through a survey to explore the role of students' relational identity and autotelic experiences regarding their innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems while considering the mediating role of students' perception of relatedness. Collected data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method. The results showed that students' relational identity and autotelic experience significantly influence the innovative and continuous use of e-learning. The results showed that relational identity and autotelic experience positivly associatewith innovative (ß = 0.190, t = 3.544; ß = 0.405, t = 7.973) and continuous use of e-learning (ß = 0.188, t = 3.115; ß = 0.344, t = 7.459) and relatedness plays a moderating role between relational identity and continuous use (ß = 0.194, t = 4.500, p = 0.000). Relatedness weakens the relationship between relational identity and innovative use of e-learning. However, it reinforces the relationship between relational identity and the continuous use of e-learning. It was found that relatedness strengthens the relationship between autotelic experience with innovative and continuous use of e-learning. The results of this study provide evidence of how students' social and motivational factors can influence their approaches to the innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems. We discuss these results and provide agenda for future practical and professional work.

The role of students’ relational identity and autotelic experience for their innovative and continuous use of e-learning

Over the last decades, using e-learning systems as an alternative format of education for traditional classroom has been growing in higher education and due to COVID-19 pandemic, this transition has been unprecedently accelerated. Although there is a large body of research on e-learning, little is known about the extent to which innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems can be influenced by students’ social and motivational factors especially their relational identity and autotelic experience. This study collected data from 400 higher education students through a survey to explore the role of students’ relational identity and autotelic experiences regarding their innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems while considering the mediating role of students’ perception of relatedness. Collected data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling method. The results showed that students' relational identity and autotelic experience significantly influence the innovative and continuous use of e-learning. The results showed that relational identity and autotelic experience positivly associatewith innovative (β = 0.190, t = 3.544;β = 0.405, t = 7.973) and continuous use of e-learning (β = 0.188, t = 3.115;β = 0.344, t = 7.459) and relatedness plays a moderating role between relational identity and continuous use (β = 0.194, t = 4.500, p = 0.000). Relatedness weakens the relationship between relational identity and innovative use of e-learning. However, it reinforces the relationship between relational identity and the continuous use of e-learning. It was found that relatedness strengthens the relationship between autotelic experience with innovative and continuous use of e-learning. The results of this study provide evidence of how students’ social and motivational factors can influence their approaches to the innovative and continuous use of e-learning systems. We discuss these results and provide agenda for future practical and professional work.