Factors Affecting Web Portal Information Services Usability: A Canonical Correlation Analysis

This study employed canonical correlation analysis to determine which of the possible combinations of student, web portal design, and objective measure-related factors might influence both frequency and satisfaction of use of the web portal information services (WPIS). Data gathered from the two studies revealed that usability of WPIS is a combination of self-initiative, commitment, content, availability, speed, esthetics, ease of use, and effectiveness of WPIS. Thus, the null hypothesis stating that the predictor variable set cannot explain any of the variance of the dependent variables was rejected. It was concluded that the WPIS usability was more sensitive to design-related factors than the student-related factors. It was likewise shown that effectiveness is a design consideration and not a dimension of usability in the context of web portal. Further, it was disclosed that initiative and commitment and not external pressure influence the usability of WPIS. Limitations and recommendations were also offered.