Abstract
This paper develops a conceptual framework for exploring significant differences in how people From diverse cultural backgrounds and with diverse individual characteristics might perceive and use web documents. This is thejirst stage of a large multistage empirical study of user sattsjaction and effectiveness of various web designs based on cultural and individualjactors. We identify six culturalfactors and six individualjactors that could impact the effectiveness of web documents. The six culturaljactors include: power distance, individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versusjemininity, anxiety avoidance, long-term versus short-term orientation, and polychronic versus monochronic time orientation. The six individualjactors include: demographics (age and gender), projessional knowledge, injormation technology knowledge,flexibility, iriformation processing abilities, and cultural knowledge. Based on the conceptual model proposed in this paper, we develop a number oj testable, specific propositions on how web document effectiveness could be impacted by the cultural and individualjactors in various web designs. In order to measure document effectiveness of each design, we identify components of web document effectiveness as perceived usability, reliability, clarity, and comprehension that, in turn, influence readers' overall satisfaction with web documents. Using the propositions presented here, one can measure and analyze how cultural and individualjactors irifluence users' satisjaction, which will assist researchers, educators, and communicators working with various web designs.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Writing and Speaking in the Technology Professions |
Subtitle of host publication | A Practical Guide: Second Edition |
Publisher | Wiley-IEEE Press |
Pages | 493-513 |
Number of pages | 21 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119134633 |
ISBN (Print) | 0471444731, 9780471444732 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 10 2015 |
Keywords
- Clarity
- Comprehensibility
- Culturaljactors
- Document effectiveness
- Individual factors
- Reliability
- Usability
- User satisjaction
- Web design