Academia 2.0 - Using Hofstede's cultural dimensions to study the relationship between ICTs and the Dutch academic culture

Abstract

This study compares two subcultures in the Dutch academic world in order to investigate the relationship of mutual shaping between academia and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The two groups are divided according to year of birth, academics who were born before 1980 are considered digital immigrants, academics born after 1980 are considered digital natives. By doing so, the influence of growing up with ubiquitous ICTs was measured. The data was collected in the form of a cross-sectional survey. The results of this survey were analysed using Hofstede’s four dimensions of culture (Power Distance Index, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, Individualism vs. Collectivism and Masculinity vs. Femininity). The outcomes show significant difference in two of the four dimensions, namely Power Distance index and Masculinity vs. Femininity. I suggest potential clarifications for these outcomes and, due to the low significant difference between the groups, possible other ways of studying the effects of ICTs on Dutch academia and vice versa.