Is the title of the article appropriate and clear?
One of the most critical moments when a person chooses to either read an article or not is what its title looks like. In this case, Sohail and Al-Jabri (2014) create an appropriate and clear title that defines three main elements – mobile banking, user-non-user difference, and attitudes. The reader does not have additional questions or difficulties in understanding the main idea.
Is the abstract specific, representative of the article, and in the correct form?
There is a well-developed abstract under the title that specifies the nature of the study. It is correctly organized as the authors mention some background information (extant and past research) and the reasons for conducting the current investigation (lack of cultural analysis and importance of innovations in the banking system). Then, Sohail and Al-Jabri (2014) explain their purposes to define the attitudinal influences of MB users and non-users and connect them to innovation. The abstract also contains a brief mention of the preferred research design that is empirical research, and the importance of the project for different financial and telecommunication institutions. However, the authors do not inform the reader about the chosen instruments (a survey with a questionnaire) and statistical significance. Therefore, the abstract was organized in a point-by-point format, and misunderstandings and concerns could be avoided.
Is the purpose of the article made clear in the introduction?
In the introduction of the article, much background information, an overall evaluation of the situation in the banking industry, and the purposes of the study are discussed. To prove the importance of their goals, the authors admit that the increase in mobile services is not as high as it is expected (Sohail & Al-Jabri, 2014). Therefore, it is necessary to understand what may influence non-users’ preferences. Besides, not much research has been developed to learn the MB situation within the banking sphere. The decision to assess IT among Saudi Arabia consumers helps advance many vital processes. Regarding the above-mentioned needs, the major aim is to investigate MB users’ and non-users’ characteristics and attitudes, and additional purposes of focusing on demographic factors and comparing attitudes are established (Sohail & Al-Jabri, 2014). After reading the first two pages of the article, it becomes clear to the reader what to expect in this study.
Are the study design and methods appropriate for the purpose of the study?
The article under consideration contains a literature review that serves as a background for the study. The authors discuss the impact of demographic factors on MB usage and the existing attitudes toward MB in terms of observability, trialability, compatibility, preserved risks, and complexity. They use a survey instrument to gather information and find the answers to their research questions about the relationship between personal characteristics and attitudes. There are two parts of a questionnaire to identify demographic characteristics and to learn what affects MB adoption. This research method is adequately described, citing several credible articles and sharing personal thoughts about the offered approach. Attention is paid to the way of answers’ measurement (a Likert-scale) and the quality of data analysis (the application of the ANOVA statistical model).
Are there statistical methods appropriate?
A questionnaire is a quantitative research instrument that is used to choose the right participants and gather enough information within a short period. Sohail and Al-Jabri (2014) sent 1500 questionnaires to potential participants and got 496 replies, with 30 being discarded because of incompleteness. The differences between answers and seven variables are compared on the basis of a chi-square test. Cronbach’s coefficients are applicable to conclude the reliability of constructs and strengthen the analysis. ANOVA models are created to compare overall findings in the study. The authors add a brief description to each type of assessment and mention p-values to explain the probability of the results.
Do you find errors of fact and interpretation?
After analyzing the findings described in the article, several minor errors may be defined. For example, in conclusion, Sohail and Al-Jabri (2014) say that cultural differences between the representatives of the West, East, and Middle East are insignificant. They talked about Finland and China, while their participants were citizens of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, their conclusions may be subjective as they are related to their interpretation of the studies conducted several years ago. Still, the remarks about MB profile in Saudi Arabia (males, young age, high income, and education) are supported by evidence from empirical articles and an original study.
Is all of the discussion relevant?
The discussion of the results is well-structured and supported by credible sources. The authors state that all demographic characteristics of MB users and non-users are presented in Table 1 and conclude in which groups significant differences may be found. Their next steps are related to the discussion of other tables (there are four tables in the article in general) and their relevance to the topic. Although it can be difficult for an ordinary reader to understand the worth of ANOVA models and values, this approach proves the credibility of the offered information. Therefore, instead of using complex terms and deviations in the study, a simple discussion of the findings is recommended.
Has the author cited the pertinent and only the pertinent literature?
In the article, there are approximately two pages of references being cited in the project. In most cases, the authors rely on the findings of peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2012. At the same time, several past studies developed at the end of the 20th century are used to show the progress of the banking system in relation to mobile technologies. Several statistical reports enhance the discussion about Saudi Arabia and available means of communication in the region. The choice of the sources is reasonable and appropriate in regard to the topic and the purpose of the study.
Have any ideas been overemphasized or underemphasized?
From the beginning of the article, the reader gets enough information about the current study, its purposes, and its variables. However, despite the fact that Sohail and Al-Jabri (2014) set clear goals to investigate certain aspects of MB, there are several drawbacks to the chosen statements. In case of revision, the main recommendation is to add several research questions or hypotheses. This improvement is necessary to comprehend the worth of research and the applied statistical analysis. Investigation of characteristics and attitudes may have different outcomes and discoveries. Therefore, it is better for a researcher to have one specific aspect and answer particular questions.
Are the author’s statements clear?
To conclude the work done, the researchers make several recommendations and admit the limitations that can be improved in further studies. One of the main assumptions is that MB continues to become an emerging trend in Saudi Arabia. Banks and other financial organizations should gain a better understanding of IT, mobile communication services, and other innovations. Although such limitations as the sample size and the duration of the study prevent making one-sided judgments, the developed assumptions and tasks motivate researchers and the banking staff.
The quality of the content highly depends on how well the authors combine their findings with the already presented evidence. In this article, innovation attributes help predict people’s attitudes towards using MB or avoiding such technologies in financial operations. Relying on the information obtained from questionnaires, the authors identify that customers are eager to use MB if they experience a lack of complexity. Therefore, it is correct to say that professional support and counseling are preferable as a part of banking services. Not to be subjective in their findings, the authors use different articles and show what other authors think about the same issue. In general, this article contributes to a better comprehension of Saudi consumer behavior, the worth of banking operations, and the role of innovation in business relationships.
Reference
Sohail, M. S., & Al-Jabri, I. M. (2014). Attitudes towards mobile banking: Are there any differences between users and non-users? Behaviour & Information Technology, 33(4), 335-344.