English abstract
The study aimed at identifying the factors affecting the Behavioral intention of SQU Ph.D. students to use e-books on the smart devices based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study focused on the following variables: the performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, habit, self-efficiency as well as demographic characteristics (gender and age).
The data was collected through quantitative method approach. It consisted of a structured survey questionnaire sent to all SQU PhD students (n=162) during the 2016-2017 academic year. A total of 118 questionnaires were retrieved, which represented a response rate of 72.8%. The data analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
The study found out that there was a positive correlation between the performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, habit, the self-efficiency and the behavioral intention of Sultan Qaboos University PhD students using e-books on the smart devices. The study findings showed that there were no statistically significant differences at the level of (a0.05) in the sample of the study about the level of behavioral intention of the Sultan Qaboos University Ph.D. students towards the use of e-books on smart devices due to the three variables - gender and age.
The study set group of recommendations, the most important of which is to ensure the appropriate planning for policy-making in order to move towards elearning, enrich the educational process by employing the applications of smart devices to use the interactive e-book, develop electronic resources and provide ebooks that meet the needs of students on the right time and language, develop infrastructure and provide fast, quality, and affordable internet services.
