Fuzzy-Set Analysis to Understand User Experience in Mobile Applications

This paper examines how price value, game content quality, positive and negative emotions, gender, and gameplay time interact with each other to explain high intention to download mobile applications, and specifically mobile games. Based on complexity theory and theory of configuration, a conceptual model is drawn along with research propositions. We employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on 531 users of mobile games, and identify ten solutions that explain high intention to download mobile games. Alternative paths are presented depending on the gender and gameplay time. We highlight the importance of price value and game content quality, as well as that of positive emotions which are always core factors when present. We contributes to theory and practice (1) with new insights into the interrelationships among the predictors of user intention to download mobile games, and (2) by advancing the theoretical and methodological foundation of how these predictors combine to lead to high intention to download mobile games