Factors influencing digital payment adoption among adults in the east coast in Malaysia / Nursyahira Syuhada Mat Ariffin

This study explores the factors influencing the adoption of digital payment methods among adults in the East Coast of Malaysia. Employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework, the study focuses on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trust, and security as independent variables to ascertain their relationships with digital payment adoption. According to the United Nations Statistics Division, the majority of consumers aged between 15-64 in Malaysia predominantly use physical cash, highlighting the continued prevalence of traditional payment methods such as cash, cards, internet banking, and cheques in the country. The objectives of this study are to investigate these relationships and answer specific research questions. The study sought to fill the gap in understanding digital payment adoption within east coast marked by unique cultural, economic, and technological contexts compared to the rest of other part of Malaysia. Methodologically, the research involved a critical review of prior literature, highlighting the scarcity of studies specifically investigating digital payment adoption among adults in the East Coast in Malaysia. Based upon the Technology Acceptance Model, the quantitative method was employed via online survey of 118 respondents. Data screening, descriptive statistics, normality tests, and reliability assessments were conducted to validate the collected data and the study's framework. Subsequently, correlation analyses and multiple regressions were performed to test hypotheses regarding the relationships between the independent variables and digital payment adoption. The findings revealed that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness significantly influence digital payment adoption among East Coast adults in Malaysia. However, trust and security do not demonstrate a significant impact on adoption. This suggests that while ease and practicality drive adoption, concerns about trust and security have less influence. Recommendations include improving user interfaces for simplicity, providing clear instructions, offering user-friendly features, and emphasizing the practical benefits of digital payments through targeted education and awareness campaigns.