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This reproduction is the best copy available UMI INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE BY KUWAIT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: NEW MEDIUM, SAME OLD GRATIFICATIONS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Talal Naser al-Najran, M.S. ****** The Ohio State University 1998 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Thomas McCain, Adviser Professor Stephen Acker Professor William Loadman Adviser Communication Graduate Program UMX Number: 9911158 UMI Microform 9911158 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ABSTRACT This study explored the adoption and use of the Internet by Kuwait University students. A survey administered to a sample of 598 students was designed to understand smdents’ attitudes toward the Internet and to answer questions about factors that best predict the adoption and use of this new communication technology. Questions of interest were: Who used the Internet? How? For what? and Why? The study was based upon two mass communication theories: diffusion of innovations and uses and gratifications. Using multiple regression, two models were developed for predicting Internet adoption and time spent on-line. The first model differentiated between those students who adopted the Internet and those who did not. The model predicted Internet adoption by demographics, education, mass media use, operational skills, information technology ownership, and Internet and personal attitudes. Major findings showed that adopters of the Internet at Kuwait University were more likely to be males, in the College of Engineering, young, with above average GPA and more than average computing skills, who adopted more information technologies, and spent less time watching TV. Adopters were more likely to be innovators, motivated, to have less problems with English, had more technical skills, greater access to the Internet, adopted the Internet for its advantages, and their use of the Internet was more compatible with their culture and religion. The analysis indicated that gratification factors play an important role in Internet service selection and time spent on­ line. The study confirmed five proposed gratification dimensions in the framework for studying the Internet. This supported the multimedia feature of the Internet in combining gratifications from mass media and interpersonal media: surveillance/information, entertainment/diversion, interpersonal utility, social interaction, and instrumental/transactional. In the second model, Internet use was explained differently than Internet adoption. Among Internet users at Kuwait University (n=249), the five major predictors of time spent on line were: social interaction gratification, access from home, length of experience, use of e-mail, and use of WWW. The model confirmed that Internet applications, gratifications, and elements are superior in predicting time spent on-line to background and demographic characteristics. Ill Dedicated to my only love: Mother, who dedicated her life for us IV ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to thank all of those listed below: My advisor Professor Thomas McCain for his understanding, support, advice, recommendations, and defenses. I owe him what I know about new media, and I regret not spending more time with him. I hope our collaboration will not be ended once I get lost in the desert. Professor Stephen Acker and Professor William Loadman for their exciting way of teaching which made me like their areas of interest, and for helping me through my classes, general exams, and the development of my dissertation. Linda Kay Dobbs for her help, company, commitment, motivation, and inspiration which I needed during my writing of the dissertation. Lillie Jenkins for being the sister I missed, a soul mate, and a patient teacher. My brother Yaquob al-Kandari for being my best colleague, buddy, and life time friend. Without his encouragement, I would probably still be taking classes. My mentor Suliman al-Rubah for his inspirational ideas and thoughts which helped me managed my problems from the time I arrived to Columbus until I finished my degree. My friends Hidar al-Bloshi, Tariq al-Masood, Musaad al-Najdi and Khalid al-Ammar for the warm familial comfort they provided me when I was away from my family. Dr. Ibraheem al-Khulifi for helping me with the challenges I need, understanding of myself, and to figure out what I am heading to. Dr. Jamal al-Menayes who encouraged me from the time I arrived in the United States, through getting my scholarship at Kuwait University, collecting the data for my dissertation, until I finished my study. Ann Holifield who encouraged me to come to Ohio State. Chris Getties who taught me the most valuable lesson in my life. Chris Yonnashanis who showed me how to be adventurous in this short life. Ali Corry for being a warm friend in this strange cold land. Dr. Humood al-Quashaan, Dr. Yousif Golom, Dr. Hadi Mokhtar, Dr. Ibraheem Ismaeel, Dr. Mosa al-Mazidy, Dr. Afeef Arabi, Dr. Abdulaziz a-Muhalbi, and all the faculty in the department of Mass Communication at Kuwait University for helping me with the design of the questionnaire and collecting the data. My nephew Bader al-Oan who helped me entering the data. He is a young man with big talent. My friend Abdulaziz al-Bader for being the innovator who inspired me to study the Internet and new information technologies. Anwer al-Fadel for being my student and a teacher I learned from at the same time. My cousin Khalid al-Quomlas who was a father, an uncle, a big brother, a role model, and a male figure for me when I needed all of those in my life. My friend Khalid al-Yaquot who has been providing me with the guidance and support whenever I need that. My friend Fahad al-Rashdan who has been inspiring me from the first time I met him. My pastor Mohsen al-Salhi. I could not live up to his valuable advises, but I ask Allah to congregate me with him and his virtuous group in the day after. Nasser al-Najran for being my dad who taught me how to say yes to authority. And last but not least, Latifa al-Essa for being my Mom. VI VITA July 5th, 1966 Bom- Kuwait, State of Kuwait 1988 B.S., Kuwait University, Political Science 1988-1991 Political Analyst, Ministry of Information, State of Kuwait, 1991-Present Kuwait University, Mass Communication Department 1994 M.S., University of Colorado, Boulder 1994-1998 Graduate Student, The Ohio State University FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Telecommunication, Communication vu TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract.........................................................................................................................................ü Acknowledgment .........................................................................................................................v Vita.............................................................................................................................................. vii Table of Contents......................................................................................................................viii List of Tables...............................................................................................................................xi List of Figures........................................................................................................................... xiii Chapters 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1 Internet in Kuwait................................................................................................................. 2 Internet Service at Kuwait University................................................................................