Information Knowledge Systems Management 5 (2005/2006) 227–243 227 IOS Press How Saudi female faculty perceive internet technology usage and potential Nouf K.M. Al-Kahtani a , Julie J.C.H. Ryan b and Theresa I. Jefferson c a Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 801 15th Street South #1511, Arlington, Virginia 22202, USA Tel.: +1 703 416 2248; E-mail: nkmhfk@hotmail.com b Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 1776 G. St. NW #101, Washington, DC 20052, USA Tel.: +1 202 994 4820; Fax: +1 202 994 0245; E-mail: jjchryan@gwu.edu c Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 1776 G. St. NW #101, Washington, DC 20052, USA Tel.: +1 202 994 6803; Fax: +1 202 994 0245; E-mail: tjeff@gwu.edu Abstract: This study investigated the perceptions of female faculty in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of the Internet. The reason this population is of interest is because there are conflicts of interests: on one hand, there is strong desire to maintain the traditional Saudi culture, which restricts the travel and interaction of females. On the other hand, there is a recognition that Saudi females are valuable members of society who can contribute significantly. This study investigated one part of this problem: how females perceive the potential of the Internet to change the way they are able to work and contribute to their society. Specifically, a grounded theory method was used to investigate the perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of Internet use by Saudi female faculty. Twenty-four female faculty members at four higher educational institutions in Saudi Arabia in three academic disciplines (science, humanities and religion) were interviewed extensively over a year. The study revealed an interesting conflict of aspects influencing both attitudes and actual usage patterns. Differences in perceptions are influenced strongly by age and academic discipline. Keywords: Saudi Arabia, faculty, researchers, female, internet, perception, user acceptance, technology transfer, information technology, computer science, information systems 1. Introduction The Internet spans time and space, providing worldwide linkages to people and resources with no consideration for identity, religion, gender, handicaps, or nationality. As such, it should provide enormous opportunities to those populations who are unable to travel by virtue of economic disadvantage, handicap, or cultural norms. In fact, it has been used as a means for reaching these types of populations in efforts to expand their opportunities and increase their senses of capability and independence, enabling them to cross the digital divide. An example of this type of activity, specifically the use of technology to expand the ability of developmentally disabled people, is detailed in Hacker [10]. Despite the well-documented successes of such efforts, the question that concerned us in this research was whether extremely hard- to-reach and isolated populations were being enabled by Internet access to reach beyond their physical boundaries. 1389-1995/05/06/$17.00  2005/2006 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved