{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,30]],"date-time":"2026-01-30T02:35:09Z","timestamp":1769740509837,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]],"date-time":"2021-07-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1627344000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JICES"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,13]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study aims to explore the socio-cultural aspects of e-learning delivery in Saudi universities from the perspectives of universities\u2019 instructors and expert designers from the Ministry of Education. More specifically, this study examined the opportunities and challenges faced in the development of online learning environments at Saudi universities from a socio-cultural perspective.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This qualitative research study addressed pervasive socio-cultural challenges connected to e-learning delivery in Saudi Arabia. Data collection methods consisted of 28 in-depth insider expert interviews as well a thematic analysis of documents related to socio-cultural aspects of e-learning delivery in Saudi Arabia.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Findings from the data analysis uncovered two main thematic areas connected to e-learning delivery in Saudi Arabia, namely, culture and female access to e-learning.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This research contributes original knowledge to international online learning research about the social and cultural complexity connected to online learning development in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other areas of the Arabic world where similar e-learning development initiatives are underway.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This research contributes original knowledge to international online learning research about the social and cultural complexity connected to online learning development in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other areas of the Arabic world where similar e-learning development initiatives are underway.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Social implications<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This research contributes unique knowledge about the social and cultural complexity connected to online learning development in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other areas of the Arabic world where similar e-learning development initiatives are underway.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The interaction between Saudi culture and online learning has nurtured a unique learning model that adapts to cultural values to provide a quality learning experience.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/jices-03-2021-0034","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]],"date-time":"2021-07-27T09:03:17Z","timestamp":1627376597000},"page":"560-579","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["Exploring the socio-cultural aspects of e-learning delivery in Saudi Arabia"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Rocci","family":"Luppicini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Eman","family":"Walabe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref001","unstructured":"Abdul-Alim, J. (2015), \u201cSaudi Arabian women receive online learning techniques from U.S\u201d, available at: http:\/\/diverseeducation.com\/article\/76935\/ (accessed 20 January 2018)."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref002","unstructured":"Abunadi, I. (2012), \u201cInfluence of culture on e-government acceptance in Saudi Arabia\u201d, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Griffith University, Australia."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref003","unstructured":"Al Alhareth, Y., McBride, N., Prior, M., Leigh, M. and Flick, C. (2013), \u201cSaudi women and e-learning\u201d, Paper presented at the Pixel International Conference: The Future of Education, Florence, Italy, June 13\u201314, available at: http:\/\/conference.pixel-online.net\/foe2013\/common\/download\/Paper_pdf\/142-ELE15-FP-Alhareth-FOE2013.pdf"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref004","first-page":"91","article-title":"The state of distance education in Saudi Arabia","volume":"18","year":"2017","journal-title":"Quarterly Review of Distance Education"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref005","first-page":"37","article-title":"The use of e-learning in highly domain-specific settings: perceptions of female students and faculty in Saudi Arabia","volume":"18","year":"2017","journal-title":"Quarterly Review of Distance Education"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref006","first-page":"2","article-title":"E-learning in Saudi Arabia: past, present and future","volume":"2","year":"2014","journal-title":"Near and Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1080\/09687761003657614","article-title":"Blended learning in Saudi universities: challenges and perspectives","volume":"18","year":"2010","journal-title":"Alt-J"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1177\/1745499918764147","article-title":"E-learning policy in Saudi Arabia: challenges and successes","volume":"13","year":"2018","journal-title":"Research in Comparative and International Education"},{"issue":"9","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref009","first-page":"21","article-title":"An exploration of distance learning in Saudi Arabian universities: current practices and future possibilities","volume":"2","year":"2012","journal-title":"International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref010","first-page":"227","article-title":"How Saudi female faculty perceive internet technology usage and potential","volume":"5","year":"2006","journal-title":"Information Knowledge Systems Management"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-Khalifa, H. (2009), \u201cThe state of distance education in Saudi Arabia\u201d, available at: http:\/\/elearnmag.acm.org\/featured.cfm?aid=1642193 (accessed 12 February 2015).","DOI":"10.1145\/1626550.1642193"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-Khalifa, H. (2010), \u201cE-learning and ICT integration in colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia\u201d, available at: http:\/\/elearnmag.acm.org\/featured.cfm?aid=1735849 (accessed 12 November 2015).","DOI":"10.1145\/1735103.1735849"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref013","first-page":"115","article-title":"Learning object repositories in e-learning: challenges for learners in Saudi Arabia","volume":"16","year":"2013","journal-title":"European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"656","DOI":"10.9734\/BJESBS\/2014\/6997","article-title":"E-learning in Saudi Arabia: a review of the literature","volume":"4","year":"2014","journal-title":"British Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1108\/14779960810888329","article-title":"Political online communities in Saudi Arabia: the major players","volume":"6","year":"2008","journal-title":"Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alturki, U. (2014), \u201cThe development of online distance education in Saudi Arabia\u201d, available at: http:\/\/elearnmag.acm.org\/archive.cfm?aid=2673861 (accessed 12 February 2015).","DOI":"10.1145\/2687917.2673861"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1080\/02680510701306673","article-title":"Ethical issues in online education","volume":"22","year":"2007","journal-title":"Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1007\/s41870-018-0118-z","article-title":"An empirical study of challenges in online distance education in Saudi Arabia","volume":"10","year":"2018","journal-title":"International Journal of Information Technology"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref019","unstructured":"Bates, T. (2009), \u201cA personal view of e-learning in Saudi Arabia\u201d, available at: www.tonybates.ca\/2009\/11\/05\/a-personal-view-of-e-learning-in-saudi-arabia\/ (accessed 27 May 2015)."},{"issue":"7","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2923.2007.02793.x","article-title":"Electronic discussion forums in medical ethics education: the impact of didactic guidelines and netiquette","volume":"41","year":"2007","journal-title":"Medical Education"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref021","article-title":"Online teaching: encouraging collaboration through anonymity","volume":"4","year":"1998","journal-title":"Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02299088","article-title":"Media will never influence learning","volume":"42","year":"1994","journal-title":"Educational Technology Research and Development"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref023","first-page":"3","article-title":"A framework for implementing responsible data mining and analytics in education","volume-title":"Responsible Analytics and Data Mining in Education: Global Perspectives on Quality, Support, and Decision-Making","year":"2018"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref024","volume-title":"Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design; Choosing among Five Approaches","year":"2018"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref025","unstructured":"Daly, U. and Young, L. (2016), \u201cSaudi eLearning pioneers transform teaching and learning through open education consortium collaboration\u201d, available at: https:\/\/conference.oeconsortium.org\/2016\/presentation\/saudi-elearning-pioneers-transform-teaching-and-learning-through-open-education-consortium-collaboration\/ (accessed 6 November 2015)."},{"issue":"3","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1016\/S0147-1767(97)00005-9","article-title":"Arab cultural communication patterns","volume":"21","year":"1997","journal-title":"International Journal of Intercultural Relations"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref027","first-page":"218","article-title":"Faculty members' perceptions of online learning in Saudi Arabia: the case for more professional development support","year":"2014"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref028","volume-title":"Culture's Consequences, International Differences in Work-Related Values","year":"1980"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref029","first-page":"335","article-title":"The dimensions of national cultures in fifty countries and three regions","volume-title":"Explications in Cross-Cultural Psychology","year":"1983","edition":"Eds"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref030","volume-title":"Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations across Nations","year":"2001"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref031","volume-title":"Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind","year":"2005"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.4018\/978-1-59140-634-1.ch006","article-title":"Ethical issues","volume-title":"Managing e-Learning Strategies: Design, Delivery, Implementation and Evaluation","year":"2005"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref033","volume-title":"User Interface Design for Virtual Environments: Challenges and Advances","year":"2012"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02299087","article-title":"Will media influence learning: reframing the debate","volume":"42","year":"1994","journal-title":"Educational Technology Research and Development"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref035","first-page":"24","article-title":"Technoethics","volume-title":"Technoethics and the Evolving Knowledge Society: Ethical Issues in Technological Design, Research, Development, and Innovation","year":"2010","edition":"Ed."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref036","unstructured":"Moukali, K. (2012), \u201cFactors that affect faculty attitudes toward adoption of technology-rich blended learning\u201d, Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas, KS, available at: https:\/\/kuscholarworks.ku.edu\/bitstream\/handle\/1808\/15072\/Moukali_ku_0099D_12474_DATA_1.pdf?sequence=1"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Musbahtiti, K., Saady, M.R. and Muhammad, A. (2013), \u201cComprehensive e-learning system based on islamic principles\u201d, Paper presented at Information and Communication Technology for the Muslim World (ICT4M), 2013 5th International Conference on, pp. 1-5. IEEE.","DOI":"10.1109\/ICT4M.2013.6518897"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref038","first-page":"56","article-title":"Learning english in Saudi Arabia: a socio-cultural perspective","volume":"2","year":"2014","journal-title":"International Journal of English Language and Linguistics Research"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref039","unstructured":"Quraishi, A. (2012), \u201cMore saudi universities boarding e-learning bandwagon\u201d, available at: http:\/\/www.arabnews.com\/more-saudi-universities-boarding-e-learning-bandwagon (accessed 20 May 2015)."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref040","volume-title":"The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers","year":"2013","edition":"second edition)"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref041","first-page":"1","article-title":"Higher education in Saudi Arabia: reforms, challenges and priorities","volume-title":"Higher Education in Saudi Arabia Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities","year":"2013"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.4018\/jgim.2002010102","article-title":"Toward a theory-based measurement of culture","volume":"10","year":"2002","journal-title":"Journal of Global Information Management"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref043","first-page":"46","article-title":"Expert commentary on new opportunities and challenges for women within saudi distance education institutions","volume-title":"Preparing the Higher Education Space for Gen Z","year":"2019","edition":"Eds"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref044","article-title":"The meaning of culture in online education: implications for teaching, learning and design","volume-title":"Globalized E-Learning Cultural Challenges","year":"2007","edition":"Ed."},{"issue":"12","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref045","first-page":"57","article-title":"A socio-cultural overview of e-learning in Saudi Arabia","volume":"3","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1515\/eurodl-2015-0016","article-title":"The development of distance education systems in Turkey, the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia","volume":"18","year":"2015","journal-title":"European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref047","volume-title":"Saudi Arabia","year":"2011"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref048","unstructured":"Al-Harthi, A.M. (2009), \u201cKing approves e-learning conference\u201d, available at: www.saudigazette.com.sa\/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=2008080313431 (accessed 12 February 2015)."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref049","first-page":"83","article-title":"Emancipative educational technology","volume-title":"Paradigms Regained: The Uses of Illuminative, Semiotic and Post-Modern Criticism as Modes of Inquiry in Educational Technology","year":"1991","edition":"Eds"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref050","unstructured":"CITC (2017), \u201cCommunications and information technology commission: Annual report\u201d, available at: www.citc.gov.sa\/en\/mediacenter\/annualreport\/Documents\/PR_REP_013Eng.pdf (accessed 15 June 2019)."},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref051","unstructured":"CITC (2018), \u201cCommunications and information technology commission: Annual report\u201d, available at: www.citc.gov.sa\/ar\/mediacenter\/annualreport\/Documents\/PR_REP_014A.pdf (accessed 15 June 2019)."},{"issue":"5","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref052","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1080\/13527266.2011.649775","article-title":"The impact of technology on the Arab communication style and culture: Implications for marketing","volume":"19","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing Communications"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref053","volume-title":"Cultures and Organizations Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival","year":"2010"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref054","volume-title":"Culture: Key Ideas","year":"1993"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref055","volume-title":"Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions","year":"1952"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref056","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.2307\/25148735","article-title":"Review: a review of culture in information systems research: toward a theory of information technology culture conflict","volume":"30","year":"2006","journal-title":"MIS Quarterly"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref057","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1177\/1069397109332239","article-title":"Predictors of differences in subjective well-being across 97 nations","volume":"43","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cross-Cultural Research"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref058","unstructured":"NCeL (2018), \u201cNational center for e-learning\u201d, available at: www.elc.edu.sa\/?q=en\/aboutus (accessed 2 June 2018)."},{"issue":"7","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref059","first-page":"89","article-title":"Faculty perception of openness and attitude to open sharing at the Indian national open university","volume":"18","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref060","unstructured":"SEU (2018), \u201c\u0627\u0644\u062c\u0627\u0645\u0639\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0644\u0643\u062a\u0631\u0648\u0646\u064a\u0629 \u062a\u0642\u0628\u0644 12500 \u0637\u0627\u0644\u0628 \u0648\u0637\u0627\u0644\u0628\u0629 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0628\u0643\u0627\u0644\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0648\u0633 \u0645\u0646\u0647\u0645 44 \u0628\u0646\u0633\u0628\u0629 100%\u201d, available at: www.seu.edu.sa\/sites\/ar\/Pages\/OneNews.aspx?LID=594&src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eseu%2Eedu%2Esa%2Fsites%2Far (accessed 21 June 2018)."},{"issue":"1","key":"key2022011914595852300_ref061","first-page":"1","article-title":"I just don\u2019t want to be judged: cultural capital\u2019s impact on student plagiarism","volume":"9","year":"2019","journal-title":"SAGE Open"},{"key":"key2022011914595852300_ref062","first-page":"45","volume-title":"Case Study Research: Design and Methods","year":"2014"}],"container-title":["Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/JICES-03-2021-0034\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/JICES-03-2021-0034\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T21:38:18Z","timestamp":1753393098000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jices\/article\/19\/4\/560-579\/225351"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,13]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/JICES-03-2021-0034"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/jices-03-2021-0034","relation":{},"ISSN":["1477-996X","1477-996X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1477-996X","type":"print"},{"value":"1477-996X","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,7,27]]}}}