Impact of Power Distance Cultural Dimension in E-Learning Interface Design Among Malaysian Generation Z Students

Abstract

Adapting the user’s cultural background to Interface Design (ID) can increase student engagement in e-learning. The cultural dimensions of Hofstede’s model have often been used as guidelines when adapting cultural interface design. As Malaysia’s power distance cultural dimension has a perfect full score based on Hofstede’s model, many interface developers tend to be guided solely based on the power distance cultural dimension. Therefore, this study aims to identify the impact of the power distance cultural dimension in e-learning interface design in Malaysia. A survey was conducted among generation Z students in public universities in Malaysia and collected 367 data. This study found that generation Z students’ power distance index of e-learning interface design in Malaysia scored 63, compared to the score from Hofstede’s study, which was 100. Generation Z students in Malaysia disagreed with using images of leaders and theme colour of institutions in e-learning. They prefer the image element related to students and learning. It was also found that students want the theme colours of e-learning are not the formal colours of the institution. However, they still want the official logo of the institution to be presented in the e-learning interface. Therefore, this study can help e-learning interface developers design a worthy interface for generation Z students which increases student engagement in e-learning.

Keywords

• Human-computer interface
• cross-cultural projects
• cultural and social implications