Share Paper: Digital Divide in Online Learning in Qatar

1. Manal Alkarzon, Northern Illinois University, United States
2. Hayley Mayall, Northern Illinois University, United States
3. David Walker, Northern Illinois University, United States

Abstract: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the differences between male and female employees in Qatar private institutions (QPI) regarding their attitudes toward online training. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) was used as a theoretical framework. Five constructs from the DOI theory (i.e., relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) were used as part of the study. This research employed a non-experimental survey design that recruited 176 male and female employees in QPIs. Descriptively, the majority of QPI employees had a relatively high-level of agreement toward online training, where more than 50% of employees perceived that online training was more advantageous ...