Digital immigrants’ attitudes toward e-reading in Iraq and Pakistan

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p><em>Purpose:</em> In the digital transformation race, the older generation, called digital immigrants (generation X), encounter various obstacles. This study aims to investigate the e-reading adoption and cross-cultural differences among generation X.</p><p><em>Design/methodology/approach:</em> This study collected survey-based data from generation X e-readers in Iraq and Pakistan (Pakistan, <em>N</em> = 235; Iraq, <em>N</em> = 251). Structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis (MGA) were used to arrive at a statistical decision regarding the hypotheses and the study’s primary objectives.</p><p><em>Findings:</em> Three hypotheses (<em>H2</em>, <em>H3</em> and <em>H8</em>) were supported by both data sets. However, there is positive variance based on MGA for two hypotheses (<em>H1</em> and <em>H3</em>) where the Pakistani sample’s path coefficients are greater than the Iraqi sample’s path coefficients. In contrast, there is negative variance based on MGA for two hypotheses (<em>H7</em> and <em>H9</em>) where the Iraqi sample’s path coefficients are greater than the Pakistani sample’s path coefficients. Finally, these distinctions are examined, along with a few potential research topics.</p><p><em>Originality/value:</em> Although there is a plethora of literature on digital immigrants and technology adoption in general, and specifically on e-reading uptake. Research on e-reading adoption in a global learning context is still lacking. Therefore, this study examines the e-reading behavior of digital immigrants from two developing countries (Iraq and Pakistan) and identifies significant cross-cultural differences in e-reading adoption.</p></div>