Adoption Of Social Networking Sites Research Articles

The effect of social networking site use on college students’ academic performance: the mediating role of student engagement

The widespread adoption of social networking sites among college students has motivated an increasing number of researchers to discern the relationship between social networking site use and academic performance. However, these studies mainly address the direct effect of social networking site use on academic performance, thus failing to identify and incorporate relevant explanatory mechanisms. The present study addresses this gap by examining the mediating role of student engagement in the relationship between social networking site use and academic performance. The study gathered pertinent data from a sample of college students (N = 180) by using a questionnaire, which measured social networking site use based on the number of hours students spent daily on six popular social networking sites, student engagement using a ten-item scale adapted from the literature, and academic performance using semester grade-point average. An empirical test of the mediation model using the PROCESS macro demonstrates that student engagement mediates the negative association between social networking site use and college students’ academic performance. This study contributes to the literature by documenting pioneering evidence of the mediating role of student engagement.

Analysis of the Presence of Most Best-Ranked Universities on Social Networking Sites

Universities are becoming aware of the importance of social networking sites for the reinforcement of their institutional brands. This study was conducted to analyze the extent to which best-ranked universities use social networking sites. A quantitative methodology and digital methods were used to measure the social media presence of the first 400 universities listed in the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Ranking 2018. The results reveal a high degree of involvement of those universities on social media; some factors that are associated with significant differences in the adoption of social networking sites include the public versus private management model, the level of academic prestige, and the region of origin.

Integrating emotional attachment, resource sharing, communication and collaboration into UTAUT2 to examine students behavioural intention to adopt social media networks in education

This study aims to develop and test an amalgamated conceptual framework based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) with trust (TR), emotional attachment (EA), resource and material sharing (RA), communication (COM) and collaboration (COL), which might be the salient factors that may influence the adoption of Social Networking Sites (SNS) for educational purposes. Data were collected from 399 Omani university students who use SNSs for their academic purposes using a self-administrated questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to perform reliability and validity checks, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed conceptual model. As hypothesised, the findings of this research revealed that students' Behavioural Intention (BI) was positively and significantly influenced by COM, RA, Performance Expectancy (PE), COL, EA, hedonic motivation, and habit, in their order of influencing power and explained 67.7% of the variance in behavioural intention. However, effort expectancy and TR did not have affecting impact on BI. This study could help instructors and managements at higher educational institutions to formulate strategies to encourage the students to use the social networking sites for academic purposes.

Investigating the Impact of Environmental and Organizational Factors on the Adoption of Social Networking Sites (SNSs)

The way of communication and pattern of doing business have been changed remarkably due to adoption of social networking sites intensively in daily life. This study attempts to unveil the impact of environmental and organizational factors on SNSs adoption among the institutional investors in Bangladesh. By using structured online questionnaires, data were collected from the institutional investors. Partial least square based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), a variance based statistical analysis technique, was used to analyze the data. It explored that environmental and organizational factors are significant antecedents to adopt the social networking sites (SNSs) among the institutional investors. Remarkably, it found that environmental factors have significant impact on organizational factors during the adoption of SNSs among the institutional investors. Most remarkable finding is observed that environmental factors are more robust predictor than organizational factors during the adoption of SNSs. This study will enrich the existing literature by incorporating organizational and environmental factor as direct determinants of intention to use as well as TOE. It will help institutional investors and service providers to formulate strategy regarding the adoption of SNSs in institutional context.

Communication Factors Affecting Tourist Adoption of Social Network Sites

Smart tourism technologies (STTs) are technological media that tourists apply in various stages of the tourism decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to explore how the communication elements of social network sites (SNSs), as a part of STTs, enhance tourists’ motivation and usage intention. A structural framework based on communication elements and the uses and gratification theory with regard to SNSs usage was developed and investigated. An online survey was employed for the data collection, and structural equation modeling was used in the hypotheses analysis. The findings indicated that Internet self-efficacy, information quality, and systems quality trigger the information-seeking motive while service quality and source credibility positively determine the relationship maintenance motive. The information-seeking motive, entertainment motive, relationship maintenance motive, and Internet self-efficacy positively influence the intention to use SNSs for trips. New findings were found in terms of the relationship between the motives. The information-seeking motive and relationship maintenance motive influence the entertainment motive. Moreover, the relationship maintenance motive influences the information-seeking motive.

Awareness of College Students in the Adoption of Social Networking Sites in Creating a New Learning Environment

It is focused on understanding academicians’ intentions to meet the changed learning styles, preferences, and usage of social media for effective teaching, little is known about how students would use these social networking sites for learning besides their daily uses for gaming and communication especially in the student perception. Social media have great supported to students in academic related to improving in learning activities to success and motivation for students. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify the awareness of college students on social networking site and its applications in creating a learning environment and to explore the factors are significant in determine the usage of social networking sites in academic environment. It is made at from this research that certain factors are significant in determining the usage of social networking sites in creating a learning environment and these includes academic supports, consonance value, practical worth, reliability, comparative benefit and illustrated etc. the study reveals that increased use social networking sites in creating a new learning environment its helps to college students in efficient and better way.

Adoption of social networking sites for educational use

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the views of university students on social networking sites (SNSs) adoption for educational purposes and investigate the factors that motivate students to use SNSs for academic purposes.Design/methodology/approachA survey method of research was adopted and questionnaires were administered to the respondent group. A total of 522 valid responses from the University of Ghana Business School Students were used in the empirical analysis. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship among the key constructs of the study.FindingsThe results of this study suggest that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, the existence of facilitating conditions and the purposes of SNSs are the key factors that motivate students to adopt SNSs for academic purposes. However, the influence of other people in society and the desire to be identified with social groups were found not to be important predictors of SNSs use by students for educational purposes.Research limitations/implicationsThe data examined in this study are based on sample responses from only one university, which may limit the extent of generalization of the findings.Originality/valueThis paper provides some useful insights into the key predictors of SNSs adoption for educational use by university students from the perspective of a developing country.

What Drives Successful Social Media in Education and E-learning? A Comparative Study on Facebook and Moodle

Aim/Purpose: This research investigates the success variables affecting the adoption of social networking sites (SNS), namely Facebook, and learning management systems (LMS), specifically Moodle, in developing countries. Background: In contemporary education, universities invest heavily in the integration of LMS with traditional classrooms. Conversely, such technologies face a high rate of failure and not all learners are satisfied with LMS services. In turn, this leads to the exploitation of SNS interactive features and services, which are subsequently included in the process of teaching and learning. However, the success of both SNS and LMS has rarely been studied in the context of developing nations. Methodology: In this study, a cross-sectional survey was used to collect the research data. It targeted a population sampled from amongst state-sector university undergraduates in Iraq (N=143). The study was based on an extension of DeLone and McLean’s Information Systems Success (D&M ISS) model to include four antecedent variables: system quality, information quality, technology experience, and Internet experience as direct determinants of technology use and user satisfaction, both of which affect the net benefits of Facebook and Moodle. The collected data were analyzed with SmartPLS, using a partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Contribution: This research extends previous literature on the critical success factors (CSF) of SNS and LMS in the case of developing countries. The study guides the way in which the acceptance of SNS and LMS in higher education can be organized in the developing world in general, especially in the Middle East, thereby bridging this research gap and extending previous literature. Findings: The research results support the influence of quality and experience antecedents on technology use and learner satisfaction. The extended model also provides full support for the association between technology use and learner satisfaction, concerning the net benefits of Facebook and Moodle. The proposed model achieved a good fit and explained 61.4% and 68.1% of the variance of LMS and SNS success, respectively. Recommendations for Practitioners: The significant influence of the constructs investigated in this research could shape strategies and approaches to be adopted for the enhancement of SNS and LMS implementation in educational institutions. More specifically, this study is aimed at guiding SNS and LMS acceptance in developing countries, especially in Middle Eastern higher education. Recommendation for Researchers: This work offers a theoretical understanding of the body of knowledge on SNS and LMS application in institutes of higher education. It further supports the usefulness of the D&M ISS model for predicting the success of social networks and e-learning systems. Future Research: As with most empirical literature, this research makes a number of recommendations for further work. Future research could investigate other constructs that potentially influence technology success in education such as facilitating conditions, perceived privacy, and security. Moreover, researchers from different contexts are invited to apply this extended model and conduct a mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) analysis to deepen the current understanding of the effect of SNS on teaching and learning, while also comparing it with the impact of LMS in this digital era.

Barriers to the adoption of social networking sites in Saudi Arabia's higher education

ABSTRACTSocial networking sites are increasingly being repurposed as academic tools in higher education institutions. In this context, social networking sites are used to support a number of key academic functions, including the sharing of ideas between students and academic staff, the forming of dedicated study groups, the exchange of links and other academic objects and self-publication. While these tools are readily being adopted in mainstream Western contexts, little is currently known regarding whether – and how – social networking sites are used in other geo-cultural regions. This study sought to redress this research gap by investigating what might constitute barriers to the adoption of social networking in higher education in Saudi Arabia from the students’ perspective. The study was based on the analysis of results derived from focus group discussions with university students at four Saudi Arabian universities. The research found that Saudi Arabian students are aware of, and welcome, social networking sites and are starting to use them for academic purposes in the same way that university students do in more mainstream contexts. However, the study did identify a range of barriers to uptake as highlighted by focus group participants.

Social Networking Site Adoption in Malaysia and Indonesia

This study employed the Model of Technology Preference (MTP) to investigate the antecedents of behaviour intention to adopt Social Networking Site (SNS) for communication after considering individual’s preference factor. This study used quantitative approach where surveys were conducted in Malaysia and Indonesia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to SNS users in big cities of both countries that lead to a total of 1037 valid responses. The data were analysed using Structural Equation Model (SEM) to measure model fit and to conduct structural modelling. The results in general support that Attribute-Based Preference (ATRP) significantly affects Attitude-Based Preference (ATTP), which also mediates that effect with Behaviour Intention (BI) of using SNS. Nonetheless, the findings from the two countries vary with regard to the attributes that affect the ATTP and the effect of ATTP on BI and Attitude (ATT) towards SNS. Malaysians tend to use SNS for communication due to the availability of options for their preferred technology. This could be explained by the higher pragmatic and masculinity index of the Malaysian culture, which they tend to exhibit in their actions. In contrary, Indonesians tend to defer using the SNS and create another level of attitude before the actual usage. Keywords: Adoption, social networking site, technology preference, social presence, perceived enjoyment.

Using Social Influence Processes and Psychological Factors to Measure Pervasive Adoption of Social Networking Sites: Evidence from Pakistan

ABSTRACTSocial networking sites (SNS) have emerged as a popular and convenient tool for connecting with different groups of people on a specific platform. This study examines the effect of social influence processes and psychological factors on the behavior of students’ pervasive adoption of SNS. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire. Partial least square was used for data analysis. Findings reveal that privacy, identification, and internalization ensure significant association with the intention to use SNS, ultimately has a positive effect on the pervasive adoption of SNS and so does gender. However, men were found to be less aware of privacy issues.

Social Network Site Usage by Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses: Understanding the Motivations and Barriers

This paper contributes to a growing body of research on the process by which small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) adopt social network sites (SNSs) as part of their business strategies. If SMBs make use of SNSs, they could potentially compete with big corporations, flattening the marketplace. Open-ended online survey questions were used to collect data from 24 different social media experts in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan was selected for this study because 90% of its adult Internet users are active on SNSs, a percentage that surpasses many emerging and developed countries. This research project identifies (a) relative advantage, (b) community demand, and (c) interactivity as motivating factors for SNS adoption. The survey results also reveal that (a) top management belief, (b) firm readiness, (c) negative comments and reviews, and (d) a low level of awareness are barriers to SNS adoption by SMBs in Jordan. The present study should prove to be particularly valuable to academics and business managers to formulate their business strategies regarding SNS adoption, and to pave the way for more research to assess likely changes.

Predicting the Adoption of Social Media: An Integrated Model and Empirical Study on Facebook Usage

Predicting the Adoption of Social Media: An Integrated Model and Empirical Study on Facebook Usage

Market orientation and SNS adoption for marketing purposes in hospitality microenterprises

Abstract In a nowadays context where the social network sites (SNS) have a widespread use among users and enterprises, this paper aims to analyze the factors determining the adoption of SNS for marketing purposes by hospitality microenterprises. With this objective, our study develops a model that includes: 1) the two pillars of market orientation for companies (i.e. consumer orientation and competitor orientation); and 2) the factors of the widely used Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT): performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. The results from a sample of 200 hospitality microenterprises in a region of Spain show that the intention to use SNS for marketing purposes (in particular, business communication) is mainly determined by the expectancies of managers or owners about the performance and effort in the use of the technology, and by the social influence generated by users and professionals in the sector. Additionally, in contrast to competitor orientation, customer orientation has a positive influence on performance expectancy and social influence.

Why do you adopt social networking sites?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate those factors that are associated with the adoption of social networking sites from the perspective of Muslim users residing in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachA complete self-administered questionnaire was collected from 223 Muslim users of social networking sites in Malaysia. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to sort the significant items for the constructs and to check the validity. Structural equation modelling was applied in testing the hypotheses and the fitness of the proposed model.FindingsThe results of full structural model attest that technological and social factors are the most significant factors behind the adoption of social networking sites. However, this is followed by an educational factor. Among Muslim users in Malaysia, the study does not find significant influence of brand or product communication behind this adoption.Originality/valueThe paper investigates those factors that are considered inevitable in the adoption of social networking sites. Invaluable findings were offered in the form of a structural model for the stakeholders of social networking sties. These findings can be used in planning and making decisions that may benefit all parties associated with it.

Social networking sites: an exploration of the effect of national cultural dimensions on country adoption rates and usage patterns

This study investigates the impact of Hofstede's cultural framework on adoption rates of social networking sites (SNS) and usage patterns across 30 countries, while controlling for a country's median age, urban population level and mobile internet penetration. Hierarchical regressions are conducted. Findings reveal that masculinity/femininity (MAS), uncertainty avoidance (UAI) and long-term orientation (LTO), significantly impact nations' adoption levels of SNS above and beyond the effects of median age and urban population level. Conversely, only LTO was found to be a significant predictor of average time spent on SNS. It is among the first to specifically relate cultural perspectives to country adoption levels and usage patterns of SNS. Moreover, it incorporates a fuller range of cultural dimensions than previous studies. We provide a theoretical framework and supporting empirical evidence to underscore the importance of cultural impacts on SNS adoption behaviour across countries. Implications, limitations and directions for future research are provided.

Influence of knowledge transfer on SNS community cohesiveness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether social networking site (SNS) communities benefit from collective knowledge and collaboration, which represent a portfolio of knowledge transfer on SNSs. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted on a large scale through an online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze data collected from 674 experienced SNS users. Findings The results indicate that all three exogenous variables, presented as user characteristics and integrated into SNS user characteristics, were positively related to the knowledge transfer portfolio, namely, to collective knowledge and collaboration, and these variables had significant moderating effects on SNS users’ community cohesiveness. Early SNS adoption was more likely than late SNS adoption to moderate the relationship between collective knowledge and community cohesiveness and that between collective collaboration and community cohesiveness. Practical implications The findings provide useful insights for SNS operators to enhance the process of collaborative knowledge transfer. They may also be used to obtain better insights into important factors that require closer attention during SNS use. Originality/value The present study provides a systematic analysis of SNS use by considering a new research model and investigating the effects of SNS-based knowledge transfer on user outcomes based on three major characteristics of SNS users. The results are expected to provide a major foundation for further SNS research and a better understanding of the relationships between SNS user characteristics, knowledge transfer, and community cohesiveness.

Faith and Facebook in a Pluralistic Age

The rapid adoption of social networking sites (SNS) has prompted educators, parents, and researchers to consider the role SNS play in social life. Few scholars, however, have examined the effects of SNS on the religious beliefs of emerging adults. Drawing from Peter Berger’s concept of “plausibility structures” and his theory of pluralism, I explore whether young adults who use SNS are more likely to condone religious pluralism and syncretism. Using panel data from the National Study of Youth and Religion, I find that emerging adults who use SNS are more likely to think it is acceptable to pick and choose their religious beliefs, and practice multiple religions independent of what their religious tradition teaches, but they are not more likely to believe all religions are true. These findings suggest that exposure to broader networks through social media leads to increased acceptance of syncretistic beliefs and practices.

Understanding the determinants of social network sites adoption at firm level: A mixed methodology approach

The incredible numbers associated with social network sites makes technology a very attractive element in the eyes of organizations. Despite this, the existing scholarly literature does not demonstrate sufficient knowledge on how firms should adopt and use these technologies. With this lack in mind, a study was conducted aiming to understand what might be the determinants with the most influence on the SNS adoption process at firm level. the study was performed making use of a mixed methodology approach. In order to achieve an initial list of variables that might have a significant level of relative importance (RI) to the adoption of SNS, a Delphi study was designed and executed through the inclusion of 25 experts in the IT/IS area. From the Delphi results, a proposal for an adoption model that characterized the adoption of SNS at firm level was designed and validated through an empirical study. This empirical approach revealed that the proposed model explained 65% of variation in SNS adoption at firm level. The active involvement of top management, the alignment of the SNS plan with the firm’s business plan, the existence of competitive pressures, and the use of SNS for gaining competitive advantages are the determinants with the most influence on technology adoption by firms.

Cultural Influence on the Adoption of Social Networking Sites

The main objective of this paper is to understand user interaction behaviour on social networking sites (SNS), and to investigate cultural influence on acceptance and use behaviour. SNS are growing in importance, and the many advantages they offer to companies are on the increase. The model described in this paper has been defined on the basis of a technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the adoption and use of SNS, by adding trust and perceived risk constructs. To analyse the culture as a moderating effect of the causal relationships proposed, we focus on two European countries, using a multi-group structural equation model (SEM). This study shows that extended TAM (ETAM) is appropriate for use in predicting the acceptance of voluntary-use technologies, and it focuses on social relationships. The cultural effects may moderate some theoretical relationships in the adoption process.