Using the Internet as a learning medium: an exploration of gender difference in the adoption of FaBWeb

Abstract

In line with V. Venkatesh and M.G. Morris' (2000) study on gender differences in IT adoption, an augmented TAM was employed to scrutinize the gender differences in the student adoption of Internet-based learning medium (ILM). A total of 549 usable self-administered questionnaires were collected, and both psychometric properties and model testing were examined through the LISREL VIII framework. All measures have good psychometric properties and all models provide a good fit to the data with all path coefficients supported. Regardless of the gender, perceived usefulness remains the most important determinant in student adoption of ILM. However, inconsistent findings are found between Venkatesh and Morris' (2000) study and the study presented; we suspect that it may be the result of interaction effects between culture and gender in the determinants of IT adoption and usage. Detailed processes and mechanisms through which the interactions take place and how they act on different components of the TAM is an area calling for future investigations.