The influence of contextual factors on the adoption and development of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) programmes in the Arab Gulf States
| Published date | 03 June 2014 |
| Date | 03 June 2014 |
| Pages | 355-363 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-09-2013-0088 |
| Author | Jamal Mattar Alsalmi,Chern Li Liew,Brenda Chawner |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries |
The influence of contextual
factors on the adoption and
development of Electronic Theses
and Dissertations (ETD)
programmes in the
Arab Gulf States
Jamal Mattar Alsalmi
Information Studies Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman, and
Chern Li Liew and Brenda Chawner
School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington,
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from research that explored the
influence of contextual factors on the adoption and development of Electronic Theses and Dissertation
(ETD) programmes in the Arab Gulf States.
Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives
of five groupsof stakeholders with an interest in theimplementation of ETD programmes.The groups
were postgraduatestudents, academic staff,library managers, system administrators, and postgraduate
officers from five Gulf States universities. In addition, an online survey was conducted with 309
participants in order to test and explore, in a larger sample, the issues identified in the interviews.
Findings – Research participants identified three levels of factors; contextual, institutional, and
personal. In addition, they highlighted that contextual factors have an influence on institutional
factors. These contextual factors include misunderstanding of plagiarism, strong economy, recenceyof
research programmes, and younger societies. For example, due to the recencey of postgraduate
programmes in the Arab Gulf States, some of the theses and dissertations are low in quality and
quantity. The Arab Gulf States have strong economies and this helped to provide the necessary
technological infrastructure needed for adopting ETD programmes.Since the Gulfsocieties are quite
young they are more likely to adopt new technologies. In addition, people at these states appear to have
a weak understanding of plagiarism issues and thus they have more concerns about these issues.
Originality/value – This paper provides insights about the factors influencing the adoption and
development of ETD programmes in the Arab Gulf States.
Keywords Contextual factors, Adoption of ETD programmes,
Electronic Theses and Dissertation (ETD) programmes
Paper type Research p aper
Introduction
The Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) initiative came into being after the
development of electronic publishing on the internet and the technological platforms
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
Received 8 September2013
Accepted 16 September2013
Library Management
Vol. 35 No.4/5, 2014
pp. 355-363
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-09-2013-0088
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 16th International Symposium on Electronic
Theses and Dissertations (ETD), in Hong Kong, on 23-26 September 2013, http://lib.hku.hk/etd2013/
355
ETD programmes
in the Arab
Gulf States
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