Current Issues Facing Higher Education in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example

1. # An Overview of the Research Methodology and Instruments The Mixed-method Creswell (2014, p.2) defines mixed methods of research as those that mix quantitative data obtained through closed-ended questions with qualitative data, often obtained through open-ended questions. This thesis intends to use a mixed methods research approach, and specifically seeks to obtain interpretations from both sets of data. As Creswell (2014) observes, mixed methods of research utilises the combined strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data.. For purposes of meeting the mixed-methods requirements, this thesis will be using web-based surveys to obtain quantitative data, and interviews to obtain qualitative data. However, and as Creswell (2014, p.2) notes, mixed methods requires the researcher to go beyond collecting and integrating qualitative and quantitative data. Specifically, the researcher needs to understand the advantages of using the mixed-methods approach, and most importantly, he needs to be conversant with mixed-method designs. According to Creswell (2014, p. 6), there are three design methods for a mixed-methods research namely a convergent design; and explanatory sequential design; and an exploratory sequential design. Each of the three designs has a different way of combining data obtained from quantitative and qualitative survey. In this thesis, a convergent design method will be used because as Creswell (2014) observes, it enables the researcher to collect and analyse both data sets separately, and merge/converge the results towards the end of the analysis. Through such an approach, the researcher draws similarities or difference between the two data sets, and validates the results he has obtained. Since this thesis intends to discover the factors affecting the adoption of LMS among academic staff in KSA, an explanatory study perspective of design will be adopted. Through a mixed method approach, the research will study the situation of LMS in KSA, identify variables that affect the situation, and establish any casual relationship that may exist between variables. Research philosophy This thesis will adopt pragmatism as its philosophy. Pragmatism allows the research to consider different assumptions, worldview and methods in a research (Creswell, 2003, p.12; Morgan, 2007, p. 72). In other words, the pragmatism philosophy gives the researcher the flexibility he needs to obtain real and reliable results. Creswell’s (2003) is supported by Johnson and Onwuegbuzie (2004), who term pragmatism as the “philosophical partner for mixed methods research” (p. 16). Research instruments Web-based questionnaire survey As noted above, this thesis will use web-based questionnaires and face-to-face interviews as the main instruments. According to Zohrabi(2013), questionnaires are an ideal tool for obtaining quantitative data. However and as observed by Richards and Schmidt (2002, p.438), the questionnaire need to be designed in an unambiguous, reliable and valid manner. Since the web-based questionnaire for this thesis will be intended to gather quantitative data, it will be structured to contain closed-ended questions only. The web-based questionnaires have several advantages which include: they can be sent to many respondents at the same time; they can collect data from a large number of respondents; respondents will find it easier to share information at a time of their convenience; it is possible to acquire standard, identical and correct data using the questionnaires; they are easy to analyse; they are cost-efficient (Zohrabi, 2013, p.255). Interviews Interviews are described as a means of obtaining firsthand information from respondents whom the researcher considers knowledgeable about a specific phenomenon (Zohrabi, 2013, p.255). Interviews are ideal for understanding the perceptions and attitudes of the respondents, and can even help the researcher understand how respondents perceive the world. In this thesis, interviews will be ideal for unearthing some of the perceptions, attitudes and worldviews that could be affecting female lecturer’s ability of willingness to use LMS. 1.# Rationale for the Study Research has demonstrated that LMS within e-learning have the potential to enrich educational experiences for both learners and educators. In particular, the affordances of LMS allow lecturers and students to connect without the confines of the traditional classrooms (Adzharuddin & Ling, 2013) irrespective of the gender of the learners or their tutors. In light of this research, the lack of adoption of LMS by female academic staff is of concern, especially given the gender segregation of Saudi Arabia universities, which means that female university students are primarily taught by female academic staff. The rationale of this research is further founded on the assumption that the research results will act as a basis for policy making for the Saudi government. Specifically, it is assumed that once the factors that affect LMS adoption among female academic staff are identified, stakeholders in the education system can work to ensure that any hindrances that prevent adoption of LMS will be addressed. Educational fields today are tending towards adaptation of technology (Aldunate & Nussbaum, 2013). Even in Saudi Arabia, LMS is being adopted in institutions of higher learning (Albarrak, 2010). Information and Communication Technologies ICT have become major focus of the educational institutions. More so, education with integration of technology provides several benefits to their stakeholders. It includes quality of learning, advanced knowledge, skill enhancement, capabilities increments, enhanced learning and interactive state of mind etc (Park, 2009). In addition, within an educational institution research has shown that it enhances the institute's performance and students learning (Sife, Lwoga & Sanga, 2007; Teo, Lee, & Chai, 2008). Furthermore, integration of technology with education institutes removes various limitations such as time and space, and barriers such as faculty acceptance for the technology (Gibson, Harris, & Colaric, 2008). Unfortunately, there the adoption of LMS and other technologies in female universities in KSA is sub-optimal (Albarrak, 2010). The foregoing revelation suggests that there are factors that hinder the adoption of LMS in such universities. Naturally, one needs to know the nature of a problem before he can resolve it. This thesis, therefore, is an attempt at understanding the problems that hinder LMS adoption among female faculty members in KSA. Notably, the potential benefits that e-learning can offer in terms of access to higher education, particularly for female students, makes it important for more information about the level of technology acceptance, issues and the possible barriers of e-learning to be unearthed. This is especially necessary if KSA female graduates are expected to be globally competitive. The proposed research will explore ways in which educational institutions within KSA are adopting the innovative learning management system using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The aforementioned model arguably holds the key to success framework for educational institutions to adopt. Further, this research aims to better understand the factors that affect women’s use of LMS and makes recommendations that will inform universities about how to support female academic staff. For instance, if it is indeed true that fewer female academic staff in KSA universities use LMS compared to males, then it will be vital to highlight the factors that need to change in order to promote parity in LMS use by male and female KSA university academic staff. Further, this knowledge will contribute to what needs to be done to increase LMS adoption – it will consider the complexity of factors that influence technology acceptance such as the Learning Management System’s usefulness, perceived ease of use, as well as, cultural and institutional factors. The rationale of this study is further based on the importance of understanding the need to focus on the parameters like academic staff engagement with in Learning Management System (LMS). The current literature - though extensive in answering e-learning in higher education system – is lacking in the specifics staff engagement in LMS and particularly the engagement of female staff in the KSA universities. The existing literature (Alshwaier et al., 2012; Al-Asmary & Khan, 2014) indicate that female academic staff are less engaged than their counterparts but fails to define why this particular phenomenon is occurring or why is it important. This study will explore such knowledge gaps and through the qualitative survey, will explore experience and perception of female staff when using LMS to try to provide an accurate picture of what their perceptions, attitudes and feelings about technology use in learning are. An additional reason why this study is important is pegged on the possibility that the results of the research will awaken stakeholders in the education sector towards the need of motivating more female staff in KSA universities to adopt LMS. Additionally, the results could be used to draw the staff members’ attention to the important role they play in enhancing the adoption of technology among the students they teach and guide. Arguably, most staff members in KSA avoid using LMS for personal reasons; however, they fail to realize that their indifference to LMS is affecting their students’ ability to use technology as well as other students in KSA and elsewhere in the world do. Effectively, the staff’s behaviors have a disadvantageous effect on the students. Moreover, it has been noted that women education in KSA has not received as much attention from researchers as male education (Alshwaier et al., 2012; Al-Asmary & Khan, 2014). Therefore, this study will add to the existing knowledge regarding KSA women as active members of the soial, economic, cultural and political system of the Kingdom and some of the challenges women face in the quest to acquire knowledge and skills. The nature of this research is investigative and will go beyond usage patterns – which currently frame research around technology. The research will extend and explore the internal factors that can be termed as beliefs or attitudes and external factors such as the Saudi Social and cultural norms using the TAM framework. This research will determine the extent to which these internal and external factors are supportive or unsupportive to female adoption of LMS in KSA universities. 2.#.# Current Issues facing Higher Education in KSA Introduction This section will address the current issues facing higher education in KSA. The section is important for this research paper because female academic staff do not operate in a void; rather, they are part of a larger higher education sector in the Kingdom. Aspects of KSA’s HE are therefore important to create an understanding of the history, growth and the working environment that exists in KSA’s HEs. Several issues are identified, which include: growth in student numbers, growth in staff numbers (albeit at a smaller pace compared to students), and the global context of KSA. The three issues are significant to this research because the adoption of LMS could elevate the intensity of the same issues, because, for example, LMS would facilitate the ability of one lecturer to teach more students in real time. 2.#.# E-learning within Higher Education Introduction The usage of LMS in higher education is meant to enhance e-learning. In other words, elearning is the goal, while LMS is the means to the goal. Yet, and as indicated by Kundi, Nawaz and Khan (2010, p.546), e-learning is not simply a technical issue; rather, it demands higher institutions to consider several cultural and social factors, which affect the eagerness that people have towards the adoption of e-learning. In this section, this thesis will highlight the global overview of e-learning, the positives of e-learning as identified in previous journal articles, and the negative aspects of e-learning as indicated in literature. 2.#.#.#. Global overview of elearning 3.#.# TAM use in Research Given the focus on the diversity of factors discussed earlier, this research will be underpinned by TAM in order to understand how female academic staff in Saudi Arabia adopts LMS into their teaching and learning practices. It also provides a theory for discussing reasons and personal circumstances that impact on the adoption of technology. TAM is among the most robust model for explaining specific information on systems technology. It is very important in explaining specific information on system technology (Venkatesh & Davis, 2000). There are several studies which have been proposed extending the models for revising technology acceptance model. 4. Research Methodology Introduction The chapter will first identify the epistemology and the theoretical perspective that underpins the selection of the methodology. The methodology and methods sections present the research questions, describe the methodology governing the methods selection, and outline the research methods for the data gathering and data analysis. The chapter builds upon other chapters, and especially chapter one which offers a brief description of the research methodology. This chapter describes how the research will be conducted and is therefore an important determinant of how data will be collected for purposes of answering all questions in this research. 4.# Ethical Considerations I requested and was granted ethical approval number ###### to use human subjects in the research from the Design and Social Context College Human Ethics Advisory Network. I also requested permission to conduct the study at the two universities (King Saud University (Appendix D)and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (Appendix E)). Both universities have granted me permission to carry out the survey and conduct interviews with members of their academic staff. The researcher also made sure to include confidentiality clauses in the web-based survey. This was meant to assure the respondents that their answers would be used for the sole purposes of the research, and that their identities would not be revealed to third parties. Additionally, the confidentiality clause assured respondents that their contacts would not be shared with anyone else. During the face-to-face interviews, the researcher made sure to respect the norms and customs of the Saudi Woman. Specifically, the researcher upheld some distance, which was meant to convey a respect to the respondent’s personal space. The researcher also requested for permission to use a tape recorder during all the interviews. 4.# Limitations This research had its fare share of limitations. The web-based survey was for example, used among respondents, whose usage of technology was being questioned. The self-reported nature of the web-based survey also exposed the research to dishonesty from respondents, especially those who would have wanted to create a specific impression to the researcher. The face-to-face interview was limited by cost, and the strict schedules that the researcher had to adhere to. Due to the nature of the open-ended questions, the researcher had to keep guiding the conversation to avoid the respondent veering off topic, which was in some cases considered unkind by the respondents. Read More