Examining the Critical Factors Influencing the Development of a User Trust-Based E-Learning for Developing Countries: A Study based on PLS-SEM and the fsQCA

Abstract

E-learning has significant potential to expand educational access in developing countries, providing unprecedented opportunities to bridge educational gaps. However, student trust in this new learning modality remains critical for its successful adoption. In this case, predicting the students' trust in e-learning is challenging. The study aims to validate a proposed model to identify the most critical factors that influence students' trust in the e-learning model. The study focuses specifically on Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) students in three developing countries which include Libya, Iraq, and Yemen. The model incorporates established factors from existing e-learning acceptance theories and integrates the concept of user trust. The PLS-SEM method has been used to examine the proposed model and to validate the factors that influence students' trust in the e-learning model. Besides, fsQCA used to Analysis the data that collected from 381 students across three developing countries. Ten factors namely; ease of use, accessibility, flexibility, interface design, enjoyment, usefulness, content quality, self-efficacy, website quality, and user preferences, has been identified and were the most critical factors that influence students' trust in e-learning. The findings contribute valuable insights for designing trust-building strategies and promoting the effective use of e-learning in higher education within developing countries.