Ajzen and Fishbein’s Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) (1980)

This chapter provides an overview of the TRA and the main variants on this model, considers the main criticisms and limitations of the theory, and discusses examples of empirical studies that have helped validate this theoretical perspective and contributed to its development over time. It also considers the relevance of these theories for Library and Information Science. Potential future research directions relating to the TRA and related theories are discussed. These include additional meta-analyses using statistical techniques to refine the underlying structure of the theory and enhance understanding of its applicability in different contexts, and the use of qualitative research to improve understanding of the thought processes involved in behavioral decision-making and the factors that influence these.