Technology Acceptance Model Scales (Davis: PU & PEOU)
The most cited measurement scales in information systems — six items each for perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use.
MarketingMarketing & Consumer BehaviorFree for researchalso known as: TAM scales
At a glance
Construct measured
Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of technology
Developed by
Davis (1989)
Original publication
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Number of items
12 (6 perceived usefulness + 6 perceived ease of use)
Response format
7-point likelihood/agreement scales (e.g., Extremely unlikely to Extremely likely)
Dimensions & subscales
Perceived usefulness (6 items) — the degree to which using the system would enhance performance
Perceived ease of use (6 items) — the degree to which using the system would be free of effort
Reliability (commonly reported)
Alphas are commonly reported around .90–.98 for perceived usefulness and .86–.94 for perceived ease of use.
Validity evidence
Developed through rigorous item refinement with strong content validity; the two factors are cleanly separable in factor analyses and predict self-reported and intended usage, replicated in thousands of studies and meta-analyses across technologies and cultures.
Populations & contexts
Technology users of every kind — employees, students, consumers — across virtually all countries and technologies.
Origin, translations & adaptations
United States. Items are adapted to the focal technology by name; translated into most research languages.
Licensing & permission
Free for academic research (cite the source) The items are printed in the published article and are routinely adapted in academic research with citation. Contact the publisher for commercial use.
How to cite (APA 7)
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Short versions & notable variants
4-item versions of PU and PEOU (Davis, Bagozzi, & Warshaw, 1989; TAM2/TAM3 studies) are widely used