Abstract

Information Technology is commonly referred to as a powerful tool which can provide many opportunities for developing countries. It is seen in particular as a prime enabler for many societies to become ‘knowledge societies’, and to integrate into the ‘global economy .In Saudi Arabia, government authorities as well as academics and their institutions have very positive attitudes towards the importance of technology for development. These attitudes, alongside economic prosperity, have helped make these technologies widely available. This paper looks at the extent to which access to electronic journals has empowered the Saudi academic community in their research. This question is explored through the use of qualitative research methods. Data was collected through interviews and further interpreted using the theory of institutionalism. The findings suggest that the majority of academics in Saudi Arabia resist using electronic journals for their research because they are sceptical of this new method of research. Further, they believe that it cannot replace traditional means of research, and they call for the localization of knowledge and resources. Furthermore, their limited engagement with ICTs for academic research has been shaped by various contextual constraints of Saudi Arabian educational institutions, including the perceived role of such institutions – as places of instruction rather than research.

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