Explicating affordances in travel information search: investigating device use in relation to goals and personal characteristics

Despite increasing attention to technology development and its impact on travel information search, research about information search behaviours across multiple devices (i.e., smartphones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers) has received limited attention. Guided by technology affordance theory, this paper examines the link between device use and information search goals, and the relationship between personal characteristics and device use. The study is based on two independent studies. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach utilising an online survey and an online trip planning diary. The findings revealed that information searchers were essentially multi-device users and switched between devices based on their information search goals. Moreover, personal characteristics such as demographic characteristics, experience and personality influenced device use. The findings of the research shed light on the elusive concept of affordance to enhance the understanding of the complexity of device usage during travel information search.