Perceptions of Sunk Cost and Habitual IS Use

As technology use becomes more ubiquitous, systems that are able to bypass users’ intentional behaviors through the creation of automatized, or habitual behaviors, are tapping into a potentially powerful aspect of the human psyche. This study contributes to both sunk cost theory and technology continuance research by examining the relationship between the drivers of habit and habitual IS use, and how perceptions of sunk costs play a mediating role in this relationship. Through the conceptual development of an habitual IS use model, the technology-enabled features which contribute to stickiness and encourage the formation of habitual IS use behaviors are explored. This research in progress contributes to the IS usage literature by focusing on automatic use that is non-work related.