Determining Students’ Acceptance of E-supervision of Research Through UTAUT Model: The Moderating Role of Gender in Nigerian Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2026-1981Palabras clave:
e-supervision, UTAUT, research writing, gender, higher educationResumen
Introduction: With the rapid integration of technology in teaching and learning, particularly in online environments, understanding factors influencing its adoption has become crucial. This study explores the moderating effect of gender on students’ acceptance of e-supervision of research projects using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from university students and analysed using SPSS version 29 and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results: The structural model revealed that gender significantly moderated the relationships between performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and students’ acceptance of e-supervision. However, no moderating effect was found between gender and effort expectancy in predicting acceptance. Discussions: These findings highlight gender-specific differences in how students perceive the usefulness and enabling conditions of e-supervision platforms, suggesting that male and female students may require different forms of support or motivation. Conclusions: As e-learning continues to expand, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, targeted strategies that consider gender differences are essential. This study contributes to the growing literature on digital education by emphasising the nuanced role gender plays in the adoption of e-supervision technologies.
Descargas
Citas
Adewale, S. (2024). Is virtual learning still virtually satisfactory in the post-COVID-19 era for pre-service teachers? Educational Technology Quarterly, 2024(2), 152-165. https://doi.org/10.55056/etq.713 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55056/etq.713
Adewale, S., & Tahir, M. B. (2022). Virtual learning environment factors as predictors of students ’ learning satisfaction during COVID-19 period in Nigeria. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 17(2), 120-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-10-2021-0121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-10-2021-0121
Al-Adwan, A. S., Al-Madadha, A., & Zvirzdinaite, Z. (2018). Modeling students’ readiness to adopt mobile learning in higher education: An empirical study. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(1), 221–241. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i1.3256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i1.3256
Al-azawei, A. (2019). The moderating effect of gender differences on Learning Management System acceptance: a multi-group analysis. Italian Journal of Educational Technology, 27(3), 257-278. https://doi.org/10.17471/2499-4324/1088
Astuti, C. C., Otok, B. W., & Wiguna, A. (2023). Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions Drive E-learning Adoption (Vol. 2). Atlantis Press SARL.
https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-052-7_6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-052-7_6
Astuti, R., Hidayatulloh, S., & Nisak, N. M. (2024). Transformation of Educational Supervision With Digital Technology: Implementation , Opportunities and Challenges. ACJOURE : Academic Journal Research, 02(01), 89-104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61796/acjoure.v2i1.122
Awodiji, O. A., & Ayanwale, M. A. (2022). Availability and Utilisation of E-Supervision of Instruction Facilities in the Post-COVID-19 Era. November. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022SP31112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022SP31112
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
Eleyan, D. (2022). Effect of Principal ’ s Technology Leadership on Teacher ’ s Technology Integration. International Journal of Instruction, 15(1), 781-798. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2022.15145a
Elshaer, I. A., & Hasanein, A. M. (2024). The Moderating Effects of Gender and Study Discipline in the Relationship between University Students ’ Acceptance and Use of ChatGPT. Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 14, 1981–1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14070132
Fasasi, Y. A., Awodiji, O. A., & Adewale, S. (2016). E-Supervision of Students’ Research Writing in Nigerian Open and Distance Educational Institutions: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Distance Education and E-Learning, VII(I), 15-30.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2013). National Policy on Education. NERDC.
Ferreira-Meyers, K. (2022). The need for revision of selected aspects of online Master’s and doctoral student supervision. Perspectives in Education, 40(1), 288-305. https://doi.org/10.18820/2519593X/PIE.V40.I1.17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/2519593X/pie.v40.i1.17
Gui, A., Pangestu, K. Y., Rugoswanto, F. H., Ahmarofi, A. A., & Suryanto. (2021). Factors affecting the adoption of cloud computations on company performance. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 99(14), 3489-3502.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7
Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2-24.
https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
Hunde, M. K., Demsash, A. W., & Walle, A. D. (2023). Behavioral intention to use e-learning and its associated factors among health science students in Mettu university, southwest Ethiopia: Using modified UTAUT model. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 36(December 2022), 101154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2022.101154 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2022.101154
Japheth, N., Ssentamu, P. N., Wambua, B. K., & Kurgat, S. J. (2023). Strategies Used for Effective Research Supervision in the Completion of Postgraduate Studies in Selected Universities of Uganda. The Uganda Higher Education Review, 10(2), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.58653/nche.v10i2.01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58653/nche.v10i2.01
Johnson, C., Gitay, R., Abdel-Salam, A. G., BenSaid, A., Ismail, R., Naji Al-Tameemi, R. A., Romanowski, M. H., Kazem Al Fakih, B. M., & Al Hazaa, K. (2022). Student support in higher education: campus service utilization, impact, and challenges. Heliyon, 8(2), e12559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12559 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12559
Kanwal, F., Rehman, M., & Malik, M. A. (2020). E-Learning Adoption and Acceptance in Pakistan: Moderating Effect of Gender and Experience. Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 39(2), 324-341. https://doi.org/10.22581/muet1982.2002.09 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22581/muet1982.2002.09
Lakhal, S., & Khechine, H. (2021). Technological factors of students’ persistence in online courses in higher education: The moderating role of gender, age and prior online course experience. Education and Information Technologies, 26(3), 3347-3373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10407-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10407-w
Lin, C. (2019). Applying the UTAUT Model to Understand Factors Affecting the Use of E-books in Fujian , China. In University of Boras. University of Boras.
Linda, P. (2021). Evaluating the Level of Electronic Supervision Practices in Arab Schools in Israel from the Point of View of School Principals and Teachers. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(9), 38-49. https://doi.org/10.7176/jep/12-9-04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7176/JEP/12-9-04
Lubega, J., & Niyitegeka, M. (2008). Integrating E-Supervision in Higher Educational Learning. Strengthening the Role of ICT in …, March, 351–357. http://www.ingedewaard.net/papers/MDDE702_research_proposalWriting/mobile didactic papers/2008_ICT4D_mLearning_zie_pagina_290.pdf#page=370
O’Sullivan, E., Abujaber, N., Ryan, M., McBride, K. A., Tingsted Blum, P., & Vallières, F. (2023). Gender considerations for supportive supervision in humanitarian contexts: A qualitative study. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 10(e50), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.33 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.33
Okoye, N. S., Uchenna, T. U., & Okechukwu, I. E. (2023). Addressing digital technology gap challenges: The Nigerian experience. Nigerian Journal of Social Development, 11(1), 95-100. www.arabianjbmr.com
Qazi, A., Hasan, N., Abayomi-Alli, O., Hardaker, G., Scherer, R., Sarker, Y., Kumar Paul, S., & Maitama, J. Z. (2022). Gender differences in information and communication technology use & skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Education and Information Technologies 27(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10775-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10775-x
Remi-Aworemi, F. . (2023). Gender Disparities in Digital Literacy and Education : A Case Study of Young Girls in Northwest Nigeria. Iconic Research and Engineering Journals, 7(3), 416–420.
Reyes, J., Washio, Y., Stringer, M., & Teitelman, A. M. (2018). Usability and Acceptability of Everhealthier Women, a Mobile Application to Enhance Informed Health Choices. JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 47(6), 853-861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2018.04.139 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2018.04.139
Sanoto, H., & Sugito, A. (2021). Online-Based Academic Supervision System in 3T Regions. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 2022(3), 5195-5206. http://journalppw.com
Selem, M. (2021). The Effectiveness of Electronic Supervision for Supervisee Groups in the School Field. Egyptian Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 173-194. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejsw.2021.58386.1124 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ejsw.2021.58386.1124
Simmons, C. A., Ford, K. R., Salvatore, G. L., & Moretti, A. E. (2021). Acceptability and Feasibility of Virtual Behavior Analysis Supervision. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14(4), 927-943. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00622-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00622-3
Sun, B., Mao, H., & Yin, C. (2020). Male and Female Users’ Differences in Online Technology Community Based on Text Mining. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(May), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00806 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00806
Taole, M., Naidu, K., Gcabashe, N., & Maphumulo, T. (2024). Supervisors’ Challenges with Online Supervision Using Microsoft Teams in Supervising Open Distance and E-Learning (ODeL) Pre-Service Teachers. Teacher Education through Flexible Learning in Africa (TETFLE), 5(1). https://doi.org/10.35293/tetfle.v5i1.4530 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35293/tetfle.v5i1.4530
Terblanche, N., & Kidd, M. (2022). Adoption Factors and Moderating Effects of Age and Gender That Influence the Intention to Use a Non-Directive Reflective Coaching Chatbot. SAGE Open, 12(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221096136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221096136
Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User Acceptance of Information: Towar a Unified View. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478. https://www.jstor.org/stable/30036540 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540
Widiyatsih, T., & Setiyo, H. (2023). Individual Technical Academic Supervision Using Digital Technology. PPSDP International Journal of Education, 2(1), 46-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v2i1.60
Wut, T. M., Lee, S. W., & Xu, J. (2022). How do Facilitating Conditions Influence Student-to-Student Interaction within an Online Learning Platform? A New Typology of the Serial Mediation Model. Education Sciences, 12(5), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12050337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12050337
Xue, L., Rashid, A. M., & Ouyang, S. (2024). The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. SAGE Open, 14(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241229570 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241229570
Descargas
Publicado
Cómo citar
Número
Sección
Licencia
Derechos de autor 2025 Sulaimon Adewale, Ntokozo Dennis Ndwandwe

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Non Commercial, No Derivatives Attribution 4.0. International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.), that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).