FACTORS AFFECTING THE STUDENTS’ USE OF WEB- BASED SERVICES AT ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

Abstract

The delivery of information services in higher education is increasingly relying on Web-based systems. The low adoption and underutilization of information systems have been a major problem for developing countries in terms of realizing their full benefits. Limited research has been conducted on use of the library websites, Web search behavior, social networking and adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in higher education sector by LIS researchers in Pakistan. This quantitative research study aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) to examine the use and satisfaction level of students with the use of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Web-based services; (2) to investigate the factors affecting students’ use of AIOU Web-based services by employing modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT); and (3) to test the research model with empirical data in respect of the factors affecting AIOU Web-based services. A survey based self-completion structured questionnaire was administered to collect data from a sample of AIOU 388 master level students from all over Pakistan, selected through systematic sampling from the study’s population. In response to the survey, 318 valid questionnaires were received, yielding a response rate of 82%. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, mode and standard deviation), independent sample t-Test, ANOVA and multiple linear regression. The findings demonstrated that the students were using the Web-based services for academic purposes. They accessed the Web services through multiple locations and sources such as home, cell phone, work place, AIOU Main Campus, AIOU Regional Campuses, Internet cafe, public library, relative and a friend’s house. Majority of the students were satisfied with the use of the Web services except for the online mailing books tracking system, library Web OPAC and Web Radio service. Furthermore, the results of the hypotheses testing revealed that the factors of UTAUT (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and students’ behavioral intention) affected the students’ actual use of AIOU Web-based services. Among all the factors, the students’ behavioral intention was found to be a stronger predictor of the Web services usage compared to the others. It was also revealed that the impact of moderating variables in respect of age, gender and experience, did not affect the relationships of the factors affecting the actual use of the Web services. However, the research model significantly measured (62.1%) the actual use of AIOU Web-based services by the students. The study provides recommendations which may be utilized as guidelines by the University Web administration to improve AIOU Web-based services. A key theoretical contribution of this research work is the development of a data collection instrument which can be employed in similar research studies in other developing countries. In addition, the findings of the study will also be a useful resource for the vendors who intend to know how Web-based technologies are accepted and used in higher education sector of a developing country with special reference to distance education.