ClappingTree’s Web 2.0

3. Research Design

Polytechnic students are mostly young (17-22 years), inexperienced with Wikis, but familiar with brainstorming and common Web features such as surfing and content/hyperlinks editing. Therefore, based on the findings of Venkatesh, et al (2004) and the hypotheses in the Davis (2004) study, I apply corresponding interventions (in italics below) and predict that:

H1: Performance Expectancy will be the most salient factor for the students. The brainstorming topic needs to be one that is perceived as useful by most polytechnic students. Incentives can also be given for quality participation.

H2: Effort Expectancy will be salient only to students who are not familiar with Wikis or brainstorming. Guidelines on the usage of the Wiki need to be established and communicated.

H3: Social Influence will be salient only to students who are not familiar with Wikis or common Web features. Facilitators shall be nominated from half the groups. They shall act as “significant others” for the participating students.

H4: Facilitating Conditions may or may not impact in the students’ use of the Wiki or the brainstorming process. Face-to-face training will be provided only to the facilitators. Tips on use of the Wiki will be made available online for all.

H5: There may or may not be differences in the use of the Wiki or brainstorming across gender, ethnic grouping, nationality, discipline of study and level of study.

My research questions are therefore:

1. Will Performance Expectancy be most salient to all or most of the students? Will Effort Expectancy be salient only to students who have little or no experience with Wikis or the brainstorming process?
2. Will Social Influence be salient only to students who have little or no experience with Wikis or the brainstorming process?
3. Will Facilitating Conditions impact the use of the Wiki or brainstorming?
4. Will gender, ethnic grouping, nationality, discipline of study and level of study impact the use of the Wiki or brainstorming?