Factors That Influence Students' Acceptance and Continued Usage Intention of E-Learning Recommender Systems in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

<p>The use of analytics in higher education is a relatively new area of practice and research. Recommender systems are rapidly being rolled out across Saudi Arabian universities as an elearning analytics tool because they enable the higher education sector to maximise resources enabling the expansion in student intake. This thesis aimed to find the key determinants of student acceptance of continued usage intention towards e-learning recommender systems to provide an improved theoretical basis for user focused software improvements to improve student adoption rates. Hypotheses were developed after studying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and tested using a mixed methodological approach. Quantitative data were obtained from students to gain insight into their experiences and attitudes towards recommender systems to find the factors that affect acceptance and therefore, adoption. Qualitative data were obtained in the form of interviews from academics such as lecturers, professors and administrators engaged in administration tasks to gauge their experiences with student recommender system usage and acceptance. The results indicate that there is high degree of acceptance and intention to continue to use recommender systems as an e-learning tool and this reflects high levels of successful early adoption. The five key determinants to acceptance and continued use were identified as user experience, service quality, perceived usefulness, and ease of use and user acceptance all of which are interrelated and of equal importance to the students in terms of long-term system adoption. The academic and administrative attitudes towards recommender systems were found to be positive as a tool to assist students in their studies. This study also determined that, as a consequence of the relative novelty of recommender systems in the Saudi Arabian educational system, it was imperative that sufficient training and technical support be provided, to ensure that both teachers and students are able to rapidly acquire the skills to navigate the system and move towards satisfying the five key determinants of acceptance and continued use intention.</p>