Thirty-Second International Conference on Learning

Abstract

The use of digital technology has become an essential part of the educational experience for students. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled higher education institutions throughout the globe to shift their teaching, learning, and research online on concise notice. The aim was to investigate how students perceive the effectiveness of digital technologies for conducting research, both in the prepandemic era and during the global health crisis in institutions of higher learning. This study employed a mixed-method approach, which involves integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods to generate data and participants involved postgraduate students from two Universities in South Africa. The study further used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) conceptual framework to explore post-graduate students’ experiences of using digital technologies pre- and during the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the implications of remote learning and the importance of technological resources for students’ academic success. The research outcomes may benefit educational institutions by informing their decision-making processes regarding the selection and implementation of digital tools for research purposes, both during and beyond the pandemic. Furthermore, the findings of this study may also be used to guide and shape future postgraduate programmes offered at these universities. Therefore, the study argues that investigating postgraduate students’ digitalized research experiences may be useful for planning and evaluating digital technology use in higher education research practices.