Factors influencing decisions to adopt web-based training by community college staff

by Peters, Karen Marie.

This study investigated factors influencing the decision to use or not to use webbased training. The participants of this study are staff employed at 16 community colleges. The community colleges studied are a part of a 28 college collaborative called the MCCVLC, Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative. The factors investigated in this study were: current technology use; culture of learning; peer support; managerial or supervisory support; training logistics; type of training event; marketing and promotion; degree completed; socioeconomic status; gender; and campus location. All participants completed the same survey designed to measure the effect of the independent variables on the binary dependent variable, to adopt (use) or not adopt (not to use) web-based training. The results of this study are consistent with the literature review on adoption of innovation suggesting that the independent variables described are all predictors of innovation. The findings suggest that the logistics of the web-based training was the strongest predictor of adoption. The constructs of marketing and promotion and type of training event were strong predictors of the decision to adopt web-based training. Peer support and managerial support were not as strong predictors in this study, however clearly influenced the adoption of web-based training. The highest degree attained by an individual was also a strong predictor. Respondents with four year degrees or higher were more likely to adopt web-based training. Other variables need to be explored in future studies. Implications from the findings and areas for future research are included in the discussion. iv