Determining the Effective Factors on Payam-E-Noor University Students’ Distance Education Technology Acceptance

Subject Areas : Infomartion Technology

Mohammad Ali Javadi Bora ^{1 *} , Hossein Nagafi ² , Mohammad Reza Sarmadi ³ , Reza Nowrouz Zadeh ⁴

1 - Assistant Professor, Farhangian University
2 - Assistant Professor, Payam-E-Noor University, Tehran
3 - Associate Professor, Payam-E-Noor University, Tehran
4 - Assistant Professor, Higher Education Planning and Research Center

Received: 2013-06-25 Accepted : 2014-01-02 Published : 2013-04-01

Keywords: Higher Education, Distance education, Distance Education Acceptance Model, Payam-E-Noor University,

Abstract :

The main purpose of the present study is to determine the effective factors on distance education technology acceptance among PhD candidates in Higher Education center, Payam-E-Noor University, Iran. This was a descriptive and survey-based study. The sample population of the study consists of 248 PhD candidates out of the statistical society of 1384 students who were selected, using Morgan table, through simple random selection, and answered the questionnaire made by 30 distance education experts. Distance education experts’ viewpoints and Cronbach Alpha (0.84) were used to determine, respectively validity and reliability of data collecting tool. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS and LISREL, using descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. The results indicated that factors had the most influential effect on the technology acceptance, respectively: technological self-sufficiency, technological mastery, usefulness, accessibility and comprehensive supports. Using factor analysis method, the results also showed that the fitness indexes (CFI=0.97), (RMSEA=0.067), (ACFI=0.98) and (NFI=0/98) were appropriate. In other words, these indexes can be used as effective factors in distance education acceptance in Payam-E-Noor University in Iran.  

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