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ABSTRACT
Article
:
DIGITAL CULTURE AND E - MATURITY AMONG UNDERGRADUATE LEARNERS
Author Name
:
S. Farook Basha and Dr.A.Tholappan
Abstract
:
This study examines digital culture and e-maturity among undergraduate learners in the Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India, with a focus on differences in gender, locality (urban/rural), and discipline (arts/science). Using a descriptive survey design, a stratified random sample of 450 students (54% female, 46% male) from six colleges completed two validated instruments: the Digital Culture Index (DCI; α = 0.88) and the Learner E-Maturity Scale (LEMS; α = 0.83), adapted from the Becta framework. Data collection took place through online and face-to-face administration from January to March 2025, with analysis conducted using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and two-way ANOVA in SPSS 28. (1) moderate-to-high digital culture (M=3.67, SD=0.52) but only moderate e-maturity (M=3.21, SD=0.60), indicating a gap between general digital engagement and academic ICT application; (2) significant gender differences favoring males in digital culture (t(448)=2.38, p<.05) but not in e-maturity; (3) urban students outperformed rural peers in both constructs (p<.01), highlighting infrastructure and training disparities; and (4) science students scored higher than arts students in digital culture and e-maturity (p<.001), reflecting curricular differences. The findings underscore persistent digital readiness gaps tied to geographic location and academic program. Universities must address these issues through targeted infrastructure investments (e.g., rural Wi-Fi, device access), curriculum redesign that integrates discipline-specific digital tasks, and gender-sensitive initiatives. While the study provides empirical evidence for policy interventions, limitations include self-report bias and a cross-sectional design. Future research should employ longitudinal, mixed-methods approaches to track the impacts of interventions and explore intersectional factors, such as socioeconomic status.
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