Flow in Information Systems Research: Review, Integrative Theoretical Framework, and Future Directions

As information systems (IS) are increasingly able to create highly engaging and interactive experiences, the phenomenon of flow is considered a promising vehicle to understand pre-adoptive and post-adoptive IS user behavior. However, despite a strong interest of researchers and practitioners in flow, the reliability, validity, hypothesized relationships, and measurement of flow constructs in current IS literature remain challenging. By reviewing extant literature in top IS outlets, this paper develops an integrative theoretical framework of flow antecedents, flow constructs, and flow consequences within IS research. In doing so, we identify and discuss four major flow streams in IS research and indicate future research directions.