## 3 Research Methodology
### Relationship between PEOU and PU  
Perceived usefulness and ease of use are of great significance for older adults in using technology; as per [PERSON]'s study, perceived ease of use positively impacts perceived usefulness. [PERSON] et al. and [PERSON] et al. stated that perceived ease of use has a favorable effect on perceived usefulness, since it allows a person to feel at ease performing a task with the least amount of effort; thus, we can create a hypothesis in the following statement:  
**Hypothesis 7**.: _Perceived usefulness has a significant influence on the attitude towards smartphone acceptance, adoption, and use._  
[PERSON] et al. stated that behavioral intention is the level to which an individual has consciously planned to utilize a device or technology in the future. [PERSON] et al. further discussed that behavioral intention is the degree of the probability of an individual employing the IS. A person's attitude expects their purpose and intention to outline the actual behavior (AU). Furthermore, these determinants are used to describe older people's acceptance of mobile devices. A hypothesis for this variable can be the following:  
**Hypothesis 8**.: _Behavioral intention significantly influences the attitude towards smartphone acceptance, adoption, and use._  
Both perceived usefulness and PEOU control attitude towards use (AT). The influence of PEOU on attitude toward use is also mediated by PU. Actual usage is directly impacted by BI, which AT and PU predict. Both the attitude towards use and perceived usefulness (PU) affect BI, and are also affected by perceived ease of use (PEOU). Perceived usefulness positively influences perceived ease of use, and equally affects attitudes.  
**Hypothesis 9**.: _Attitude towards use has a positive influence on actual smartphone usage._Compatibility alludes to how much the adoption of technology innovation is dependent on the current needs, experience, and values of potential adopters of the innovation [33]. [PERSON] et. al stated that compatibility is an essential attribute that should be available if someone decides to adopt, accept, and use technological innovation. From this perspective, the association of smartphone utilization in the workplace with a person's way of work and lifestyle represents compatibility [34; 35].  
**Hypothesis 10**.: _Compatibility has a significant influence on the attitude towards smartphone acceptance, adoption, and use._  
From the extensive literature review, a framework of this study is shown in Figure 1. It was assumed that the external variables (comfortability (gender, age), social influence, perceived enjoyment, fear of failure, technology awareness, behavioral intention) and mediating variable (attitude towards use) would influence the dependent variable (actual smartphone use). The attitude towards using a smartphone is a significant mediator between the external independent variables and smartphone adoption [36]. Furthermore, the study proposed that the external, independent variables would predict the attitude towards use, which, in turn, would signify smartphone acceptance and adoption. This indicates that if an individual perceives smartphones to be more beneficial, then this will cause individuals to have more encouraging attitudes toward smartphones, and consequently impact greater smartphone adoption.