Social Network Ties, Student Attitudes, and Technology Adoption in Kenyan Universities

The increased dependency on digital learning tools has notably accelerated technology adoption within higher education. While research has explored the relationship between student attitudes and technology usage, there remains a gap in understanding the influence of social network ties on this process, particularly within collectivist cultures such as Kenya. This study draws on Social Exchange Theory and Structural Holes Theory, to examine how social network ties affect the link between student attitudes and technology adoption in Kenyan universities. A quantitative cross sectional survey design was leveraged on, data was collected from 437 final-year students in 79 Kenyan universities using a validated questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the reliability and construct validity of the measurement instruments. The study leveraged on a moderated linear regression analysis to verify the proposed model. It revealed that student attitudes significantly influence technology adoption (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), and, social network ties significantly enhance this relationship (interaction effects: strong ties β = 0.19, p < 0.01; weak ties β = 0.15, p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that students embedded in social network ties are more likely to have positive attitudes on technology adoption. The results complement technology adoption models by demonstrating that social network ties are vital for technology adoption in higher education. The study offers actionable insights on the need to foster social network ties to maximize the impact of technology adoption. Future research should explore these dynamics longitudinally and contextually to deepen understanding of the interplay between student attitudes, social networks, and technology use.