Exploring the influence of gender on the web usage via partial least squares

A growing body of research related to the role of gender in human interactions with information technology has emerged in recent years. In this paper we analyse the web acceptance and usage between males and females, incorporating intrinsic human factors. Partial least-squares (PLS), a second-generation multivariate analysis technique, was used to estimate the parameters of the proposed models. First, the scale psychometric characteristics were tested (validity and reliability). Second, the structural model was tested. The empirical results provided strong support for the hypotheses, demonstrating how males and females differ in their 'web acceptance and usage' processes; and highlighting the roles of flow, ease of use and usefulness in determining the actual use of the web between males and females.     

An application of the technology acceptance model to the level of Internet usage by older adults

In this cross-sectional study, the principles of a technology acceptance model were used to identify variables related to the level of Internet usage by older adults. Community-dwelling older adults aged 60–88 years completed a postal questionnaire survey that elicited responses on the use of the Internet. Out of a sample of 592 older adults (236 males and 356 females), 50.7% used the Internet. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out on the Internet users sample using the self-reported number of hours of Internet usage per week as the dependent variable. The results indicated that attitude toward using the Internet and good health status were statistically significant predictors of the level of Internet usage. A second multiple regression analysis using Internet activity as the dependent variable showed that attitude, usefulness, good health, and gender (males) were significant predictor variables.     

Does being on Facebook make me (feel) accepted in the classroom? The relationships between early adolescents' Facebook usage,classroom peer acceptance and self-concept

The present study aimed to explore the relationships between classroom peer relations, self-concept, and the use of social networking sites in early adolescents. The differences between Facebook users and non-users in their (teacher-assessed and sociometric) classroom peer acceptance and the peer relations, academic and global self-concept were investigated. In addition, the incremental predictive power of students' Facebook usage indicators for their peer relations self-concept beyond their actual classroom acceptance was tested, as well as the moderating role of early adolescents' gender classroom peer acceptance in the relation between Facebook usage and peer relations self-concept. 404 early adolescents (47.3% males; 82.9% Facebook users) participated in the study. No differences were found between users and non-users in their social preference, teacher-assessed peer acceptance, and academic and general self-concept. However, Facebook users reported significantly higher peer relations self-concept. No significant differences were found between Facebook users classified in different sociometric groups. Measures of Facebook usage explained incremental variance in peer-relation self-concept beyond classroom peer acceptance measures. In addition, a significant interaction effect between emotional connectedness to Facebook and gender was found; being highly emotionally connected to Facebook was beneficial only for girls’ peer relations self-concept. These results shed light on commonalities and differences in Facebook and classroom connectedness.     

Information technology (IT) in Saudi Arabia: Culture and the acceptance and use of IT

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), a model of the user acceptance of IT, synthesizes elements from several prevailing user acceptance models. It has been credited with explaining a larger proportion of the variance of ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’ than do preceding models. However, it has not been validated in non-Western cultures. Using a survey sample collected from 722 knowledge workers using desktop computer applications on a voluntary basis in Saudi Arabia, we examined the relative power of a modified version of UTAUT in determining ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’. We found that the model explained 39.1% of intention to use variance, and 42.1% of usage variance. In addition, drawing on the theory of cultural dimensions, we hypothesized and tested the similarities and differences between the North American and Saudi validations of UTAUT in terms of cultural differences that affected the organizational acceptance of IT in the two societies.     

Adding contextual specificity to the technology acceptance model

This paper examines the influence of contextual specificity when describing technology acceptance. Social cognitive theory provides the basis for adding several independent variables (computer anxiety, prior experience, other’s use, organizational support, task structure, and system quality) and one intervening variable (computer-efficacy) to the technology acceptance model (TAM). This extended model was tested using a mail survey and the results are tabulated using partial least squares. The results show that system usage is strongly influenced by computer anxiety, prior experience, other’s use, organizational support, task structure, system quality, and perceived usefulness. In addition, perceived usefulness is the strongest mediator in determining system usage.     

Gender difference in web search perceptions and behavior: Does it vary by task performance?

This study investigates Chinese students' gender differences in their actual use of the web for online information seeking. One hundred and seven Chinese university students responded to questionnaires regarding their perceptions about the use of the web for learning purposes. Afterwards, all the participants were asked to search online to answer two questions about bees' decision for hive location. As they searched, the online system logged participants' search activities during the search, including the type of activities during search, the frequency of each activity and the time spent on each activity. Participants were compared by gender in terms of their web search efficacy, web search anxiety, frequency counts of different web search activities, time spent on each search activity and search task performance. Web search efficacy levels varied by gender but not by performance levels. Anxiety did not vary by gender or performance levels. The interaction effect between gender and performance level was found in several search process variables: significant gender differences were only found in medium-performing students wherein males were engaged in more search activities than females, as seen in the larger number of searches, search queries, and times male students updated the search queries. One factor that could explain the significant gender differences in the medium-level group was their web search efficacy. The more confident medium-performing male students were in web search, the less need they perceived to access information to solve the task. This pattern was reversed for medium-performing females. The high- and low-performing males did not differ much from females in their search activities. It appeared that students' perceptions of their web search ability did not contribute much to their search activities in these two groups. Implications of the findings were also discussed.     

A structural equation modeling of the Internet acceptance in Korea

The objective of this study is to develop and test an integrated conceptual model of the Internet acceptance. Based on the two dominant theoretical paradigms – the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) – we propose a model of the Internet acceptance to investigate the relationship between external variables such as individual differences, task characteristics and management support, and individual acceptance of the Internet. The model is tested using data gathered from 374 end users of the Internet in Korean firms and data analysis is conducted using a structural equation modeling with LISREL. Significant relationships are found between experience and usefulness, between experience and ease of use, and between ease of use and usefulness. Organizational support is found to influence usefulness, ease of use and subjective norm. We also observe that actual usage is not influenced by subjective norm, but significantly influenced by experience, usefulness and ease of use. This result implies that individual acceptance of the Internet is significantly related to external factors such as experience, task characteristics and organizational characteristics rather than beliefs.     

Computer-mediated knowledge sharing and individual user differences: an exploratory study

Prior research has shown that individual differences in users' cognitive style and gender can have a significant effect on their usage and perceived usefulness of management information systems. We argue that these differences may also extend to computer-mediated knowledge management systems (KMS), although previous research has not tested this empirically. Where employees are expected to use KMS for acquiring and sharing knowledge, we posit that some will gain more benefit than others, due to their innate personal characteristics, specifically gender and cognitive style. Based on a sample of 212 software developers in one large IS organization, we re-open these dormant debates about the effects of cognitive style and gender on technology usage. The paper contains four main findings. First, we present support for the proposition that cognitive style has an impact on KMS usage, although not for all components of the system. Second, that gender significantly affects KMS usage, with males being more likely to use such systems than females. Third, we find a small interaction effect between cognitive style and gender, but only for the use of data mining. Finally, the data suggest that there is a strong association between KMS usage levels and perceived usefulness. We conclude that if organizations do not recognize the inherent diversity of the workforce, and accommodate gender and cognitive style differences into their knowledge management strategies, they may be likely to propagate an intrinsic disadvantage, to the detriment of females and intuitive thinkers.     

A structural equation modeling of the Internet acceptance in Korea

The objective of this study is to develop and test an integrated conceptual model of the Internet acceptance. Based on the two dominant theoretical paradigms – the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) – we propose a model of the Internet acceptance to investigate the relationship between external variables such as individual differences, task characteristics and management support, and individual acceptance of the Internet. The model is tested using data gathered from 374 end users of the Internet in Korean firms and data analysis is conducted using a structural equation modeling with LISREL. Significant relationships are found between experience and usefulness, between experience and ease of use, and between ease of use and usefulness. Organizational support is found to influence usefulness, ease of use and subjective norm. We also observe that actual usage is not influenced by subjective norm, but significantly influenced by experience, usefulness and ease of use. This result implies that individual acceptance of the Internet is significantly related to external factors such as experience, task characteristics and organizational characteristics rather than beliefs.     

Measuring task-specific perceptions of the world wide web

This paper describes the development of multi-item scales for measuring user perceptions of the ease-of-use and usefulness of the Web (hereafter web), incorporating a system task focus into the scales dimensional structure (e.g. how easy or useful the web is for information search, communication and or purchasing). The items are tested on 2077 web users recruited using a web survey, revealing four factors for each scale. Perceived ease-of-web use consists of learning, search and find, transaction and communication ease, and perceived web usefulness consists of communication, purchase, information search and acquisition, and access to quality products and information. A regression analysis on web usage frequency shows how easy users find it to learn how to use the web and how useful the web is for purchasing are the best predictors of how frequently they will use the web. These results highlight the importance of training users how to effectively use hypermedia-based systems like the web, and the design of systems that are easy to navigate and that provide advanced functionality for transactional activity.     

Measuring task-specific perceptions of the world wide web

This paper describes the development of multi-item scales for measuring user perceptions of the ease-of-use and usefulness of the Web (hereafter web), incorporating a system task focus into the scales dimensional structure (e.g. how easy or useful the web is for information search, communication and or purchasing). The items are tested on 2077 web users recruited using a web survey, revealing four factors for each scale. Perceived ease-of-web use consists of learning, search and find, transaction and communication ease, and perceived web usefulness consists of communication, purchase, information search and acquisition, and access to quality products and information. A regression analysis on web usage frequency shows how easy users find it to learn how to use the web and how useful the web is for purchasing are the best predictors of how frequently they will use the web. These results highlight the importance of training users how to effectively use hypermedia-based systems like the web, and the design of systems that are easy to navigate and that provide advanced functionality for transactional activity.     

Examining the relationship to gender and personality on the purpose of Facebook usage of Turkish university students

This study examined whether the purposes of Facebook usage is associated with gender and big five personalities in a sample of Turkish university students. Seven hundred and fifty one students filled in a set of questionnaires. While males use Facebook to express themselves, meet new people, and store and organize things more, females use Facebook for educational purposes. Agreeable and conscientious people use Facebook to maintain existing relationship more. It was concluded that gender and agreeableness, which is one of the personality types, are significant variables on the purposes of Facebook usage.     

Gender differences in the relationship between internet addiction and depression: A cross-lagged study in Chinese adolescents

The present study explored the role of gender in the association between Internet addiction and depression. Three-wave longitudinal panel data were collected from self-reported questionnaires that were completed by 1715 adolescents in grades 6–8 in China. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationship between Internet addiction and depression. In male adolescents, depression was found to significantly predict subsequent Internet addiction, suggesting that depression was the cause of Internet addiction and supporting the mood enhancement hypothesis. In female adolescents, Internet addiction was found to significantly predict subsequent depression, indicating that Internet addiction leads to depression and supporting the social displacement hypothesis. These results indicate that the relationship between Internet addiction and depression depended on gender. In addition, it was found that males and females exhibit different behavioral patterns and motivations of Internet usage. Males were more likely to use the Internet for pleasure and less likely to surf the Internet to search for information, compared with females. Although both males and females were prone to surfing the Internet alone, males were more likely to go online with friends compared with females. These findings suggest that gender-specific preventative and interventional strategies should be developed to reduce Internet addiction.     

An examination of the factors contributing to microcomputer technology acceptance

This paper examines the factors that explain variations in microcomputer acceptance. Results of this study identify two main factors contributing to microcomputer acceptance: behavioral beliefs and normative beliefs. We found that individuals use microcomputers if they believe that (a) using the system will increase their performance and productivity, and (b) if they feel social pressure to use microcomputers, mainly pressure from individuals or groups with whom they are motivated to comply think they should use them. We also found that perceived usefulness and computer anxiety had strong direct effects on attitudes and that both computer anxiety and perceived usefulness mediated the effects of the external factors (computer skills and organizational support) on microcomputer usage. Subjective norms also had a direct effect on microcomputer usage and mediated the effect of normative beleifs on microcomputer usage. Finally, results also show that organizational usage (peer usage, management usage, and subordinate usage) and organizational support (management and information center support) had direct effects on normative beliefs. Implications for practitioners and researchers are offered on user acceptance of microcomputer technology. We also provided some design and implementation guidelines that foster computer technology acceptance.     

Determinants of college students' use of online collaborative help‐seeking tools

Research has noted the effectiveness of online tools (e.g., discussion boards) for supporting help seeking among class members. However, help seeking is not necessarily warranted via online learning tools because some factors (e.g., low Internet self‐efficacy) may influence students' intention to use them. This study aims to identify the determinants of students' use of a web‐based help‐seeking tool called EchoLu. For this purpose, a structural model was developed based on technology acceptance model and tested using a structural equation modelling approach. According to the data analysis results, general Internet self‐efficacy, information‐search self‐efficacy, web‐based learning self‐efficacy, and EchoLu‐specific self‐efficacy play a significant role in students' intentions to use online help‐seeking tools. Contrary to the previous research, no statistically significant relationship was found between general Internet self‐efficacy and EchoLu‐specific self‐efficacy, and between web‐based learning self‐efficacy and perceived usefulness. Implications of the findings for guiding practitioners in supporting effective help‐seeking are presented. Limitations of the study and future research prospects are discussed as well.     

“Passion and concern for privacy” as factors affecting snapchat use: A situated perspective on technology acceptance

This cross-sectional study explored the factors affecting Snapchat use, specifically the role of passion and concern for privacy in the acceptance of Snapchat. Partial least squares path-analysis was conducted using a path model based an extended Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) to gauge the contribution of Passion and Concern for Privacy for explaining Snapchat use. Only users who had experience using Snapchat completed the questionnaire. Responses were collected through personal networks over the 2016 year. The sample consisted of 69 females and 45 males. Respondents ranged from 16 to 50 years of ages, with the average being 22.57 years old (SD = 4.87) and were primarily located in North America. We find that Passion but not Concern for Privacy influenced Snapchat use. This study demonstrates that a situated perspective on technology acceptance provides a more complete account of Snapchat use. Implications of the situated perspective for technology acceptance modelling are discussed.     

A Knowledge Base for the maintenance of knowledge extracted from web data

By applying web mining tools, significant patterns about the visitor behavior can be extracted from data originated in web sites. Supported by a domain expert, the patterns are validated or rejected and rules about how to use the patterns are created. This results in discovering new knowledge about the visitor behavior to the web site. But, due to frequent changes in the visitor’s interests, as well as in the web site itself, the discovered knowledge may become obsolete in a short period of time. In this paper, we introduce a Knowledge Base (KB), which consists of a database-type repository for maintaining the patterns, and rules, as an independent program that consults the pattern repository. Using the proposed architecture, an artificial system or a human user can consult the KB in order to improve the relation between the web site and its visitors. The proposed structure was tested using data from a Chilean virtual bank, which proved the effectiveness of our approach.     

An empirical investigation of student acceptance of course websites

The World Wide Web (WWW) is the future in teaching and learning. This paper uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs of usefulness and ease of use to assess university students’ acceptance of course websites as an effective learning tool. A survey instrument was distributed to 450 undergraduate students and a total of 403 usable responses were obtained. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were implemented using structural equation modeling techniques through LISREL version 8.52. A structural equation model was used to fit and validate the Course Website Acceptance Model (CWAM) and the results indicated good fit to the data. Course website usefulness and ease of use proved to be key determinants of the acceptance and usage of course website as an effective and efficient learning technology. The causal relationships between the constructs considered by the CWAM were well supported, accounting for 83% of the total variance in the course website acceptance and usage.     

A study on the acceptance of website interaction aids by older adults

The goal of the present work is to investigate the potential acceptance of a set of web interaction aids by older adults, in order to help them overcome difficulties associated with ageing and help them continue using the web as a source of information, communication and services. This paper presents a survey with older adults concerning their perceptions about a set of web interaction aids defined after a field observation study, a study with questionnaires and user tests of web applications. The survey involved 313 participants, of which about 44 % were older adults and elderly users. The results showed that the use of aids to support the interaction of older adults with the web promotes improvements in the interaction of older adults and younger users alike, which supports the argument for enhanced universal usability. Finally, it was possible to diagnose barriers that still remain and which aids had best acceptance by older adults.     

Acceptance of Assistive Technology by Special Education Teachers: A Structural Equation Model Approach

To investigate the acceptance of assistive technology (AT) by special education teachers, the present study developed and tested hypothesized relationships among key determinants of AT acceptance such as the facilitating condition, perceived ease of use, computer self-efficacy, result demonstrability, perceived usefulness, and behavioral intention. Results from analysis of data collected from a number of special education teachers in schools for the visually and/or auditory impaired confirmed the effects hypothesized in our conceptual model of AT acceptance. In particular, perceived usefulness was a dominant factor affecting AT usage. Facilitating condition was strongly related to perceived ease of use, whereas perceived ease of use had a significant effect on computer self-efficacy. This study also found the importance of result demonstrability factor, which had significant effects on both computer self-efficacy and perceived usefulness. This study expanded and enriched a traditional technology acceptance model by further investigating determinants associated with the acceptance of AT by special education teachers for the blind and/or the deaf. In addition, the results of the present study should provide some insights into the understanding of AT acceptance and the decisions of AT utilization, as well as its distribution and training.