Evaluating Iranian state university websites using WebQEM
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-07-2014-0112 |
| Published date | 07 November 2016 |
| Date | 07 November 2016 |
| Pages | 1031-1050 |
| Author | Monireh Gharibe Niazi,Masumeh Karbala Aghaei Kamran |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Evaluating Iranian state
university websites
using WebQEM
Monireh Gharibe Niazi and Masumeh Karbala Aghaei Kamran
Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose – As a result of the so-called information explosion, it is very important for researchers,
faculty members and students to access scientic and research information, which highlights the
importance of designing university websites. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate Iranian state
university websites using the Web quality evaluation method (WebQEM).
Design/methodology/approach – The research method was a combination of a descriptive survey
and Delphi technique. The research population included 100 Iranian state university websites. Data
collection was done using the checklists prepared by WebQEM. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean
and standard deviation) and analysis statistics (Spearman rank-difference correlation coefcient) were
used for data analysis.
Findings – The results indicated that Iranian state university websites met the four main criteria
considered in WebQEM; reliability (mean ⫽0.67), efciency (mean ⫽0.66) and functionality (mean ⫽
0.62) were in a “good” condition, and usability was in a “middle” condition (mean ⫽0.59). Also, the
ndings showed that 60 per cent of the websites were in a good condition and 37 per cent were in a
middle condition. In conclusion, Iranian state university websites were found to be in a “good” condition
(mean ⫽0.63). Also, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was ranked in the rst place (score ⫽0.822). The
hypothesis that there was a very weak correlation between Iranian state university ranking and Iranian
state university websites ranking was conrmed (with the correlation of 0.22).
Practical implications – The paper includes implications for the development of user interface of
academic websites. This paper lls a part of the gap in terms of an urgent need for research on how
university websites can be standardized. If university websites have signicant and necessary
standard factors (i.e. ISO 9126-1), students may succeed in academic information retrieval. Using the
results of this research can help university website designers to x weaknesses for active participation
in these websites.
Originality/value – This study has evaluated Iranian state university websites using WebQEM.
Keywords Iran, Evaluation, User interfaces, Universities, Web sites
Paper type Case study
1. Introduction
The World Wide Web is one of the most important aspects of the information production
process in the information society. It has created a space with no geographical, political
and temporal aspects, and traditional ways of collecting, storing, evaluating and
disseminating information in organizations and information centers have dramatically
changed. Also, new opportunities and achievements have been created for promoting
social and cultural interactions in the World Wide Web.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Iranian state
university
websites
1031
TheElectronic Library
Vol.34 No. 6, 2016
pp.1031-1050
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-07-2014-0112
Saving money and time, lack of restriction on access and up-to-date information are
among the reasons why the World Wide Web has become the most comprehensive
media of information.
Universities use the World Wide Web for making educational and research
information more available, providing quality information and easier ways of informing
and improving their mission – which is providing appropriate and comprehensive
information – to accomplish a better place. Presently, university websites are used as
main axis of dissemination of the required information by students, faculty members
and the staff.
However, because of the effective role of websites in improving the level of scientic
production, and scientic development in human communities, it is necessary to
understand what users expect from information services and websites and measure the
quality of information services in organizations (Hori and Ahmadi, 2008).
Over time and in the context of the development of software and hardware and
advances in Web technology, website designers have investigated whether university
websites are designed in accordance with principles and standards of assessment. For
this purpose, university websites must be frequently evaluated.
For proper evaluation of websites and achieving desirable results, it is necessary to
benet from standards of quality assessment of websites. One of these methods is the
Web quality evaluation method (WebQEM), which is a widely used quantitative,
engineering and systematic method for standard evaluation based on the notion of
evaluation pattern called ISO 9126-1 standard for quality assessment of software and
Web applications. These investigations can eliminate weaknesses in university
websites and increase the ranking of university websites.
2. Research questions
RQ1. What does an evaluation of Iranian state university websites show in terms of
the main criteria of usability, functionality, reliability and efciency in
WebQEM?
RQ2. What does an evaluation of Iranian state university websites show in terms of
the sub-criteria of global site understandability, feedback and help features,
interface and aesthetic features and miscellaneous features related to usability
in WebQEM?
RQ3. What does an evaluation of Iranian state university websites show in terms of
the sub-criteria of searching and retrieving issues, navigation and browsing
issues, and student-oriented domain features related to functionality in
WebQEM?
RQ4. What does an evaluation of Iranian state university websites show in terms of
the sub-criteria of non-deciency related to reliability in WebQEM?
RQ5. What does an evaluation of Iranian state university websites show in terms of
the sub-criteria of performance, and accessibility related to efciency in
WebQEM?
RQ6. What is the ranking of the top 20 Iranian state universities according to
WebQEM?
EL
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1032
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