The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: The case of Arabic

Ahmed Alsswey; Hosam Al-Samarraie

doi:10.1017/S0890060421000019

The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: The case of Arabic

Ahmed Alsswey, Hosam Al-Samarraie

Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

1544 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A user interface (UI) design that meets the preferences, differences, and needs of the group of users can potentially increase the usability of a system. Users, in general, feel more familiar with the context that reflects their cultural values and practices. The Arabic culture plays a significant role in how Arab users interact and communicate with technologies. The customs, artifacts, and traditions of the Arab world are different in nature from the Western cultures. Thus, it is essential to consider these differences when designing the UI prototype. This study investigated the role of certain cultural preferences in the design of UI for Arab users. A think-aloud approach and Hofstede's cultural dimensions were used on 23 Arab users to generate the necessary design guidelines for the UI of mobile health application. Then, 78 participants were recruited to evaluate the proposed UI design. The usability results showed high satisfaction among Arab users about the role of culture in the design of the UI. Findings from this study can be used by designers and developers to aid their design of UI for group-specific cultural preferences and values.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	116-127
Number of pages	12
Journal	Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing: AIEDAM
Volume	35
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0890060421000019
Publication status	Published - 26 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Funder

Deanship of Scientific Research at AL-Zaytoonah Private University of Jordan Research No. 2020-2019-32/16.

Keywords

Arab users
culture
HCI
Hofstede dimensions
mobile UI design

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Artificial Intelligence

Access to Document

10.1017/S0890060421000019

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 875 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

@article{c0301b87462d4653bfdeea21342c0ad4,

title = "The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: The case of Arabic",

abstract = "A user interface (UI) design that meets the preferences, differences, and needs of the group of users can potentially increase the usability of a system. Users, in general, feel more familiar with the context that reflects their cultural values and practices. The Arabic culture plays a significant role in how Arab users interact and communicate with technologies. The customs, artifacts, and traditions of the Arab world are different in nature from the Western cultures. Thus, it is essential to consider these differences when designing the UI prototype. This study investigated the role of certain cultural preferences in the design of UI for Arab users. A think-aloud approach and Hofstede's cultural dimensions were used on 23 Arab users to generate the necessary design guidelines for the UI of mobile health application. Then, 78 participants were recruited to evaluate the proposed UI design. The usability results showed high satisfaction among Arab users about the role of culture in the design of the UI. Findings from this study can be used by designers and developers to aid their design of UI for group-specific cultural preferences and values.",

keywords = "Arab users, culture, HCI, Hofstede dimensions, mobile UI design",

author = "Ahmed Alsswey and Hosam Al-Samarraie",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1017/S0890060421000019",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

pages = "116--127",

journal = "Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing: AIEDAM",

issn = "0890-0604",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface

T2 - The case of Arabic

AU - Alsswey, Ahmed

AU - Al-Samarraie, Hosam

N1 - Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

PY - 2021/2/26

Y1 - 2021/2/26

N2 - A user interface (UI) design that meets the preferences, differences, and needs of the group of users can potentially increase the usability of a system. Users, in general, feel more familiar with the context that reflects their cultural values and practices. The Arabic culture plays a significant role in how Arab users interact and communicate with technologies. The customs, artifacts, and traditions of the Arab world are different in nature from the Western cultures. Thus, it is essential to consider these differences when designing the UI prototype. This study investigated the role of certain cultural preferences in the design of UI for Arab users. A think-aloud approach and Hofstede's cultural dimensions were used on 23 Arab users to generate the necessary design guidelines for the UI of mobile health application. Then, 78 participants were recruited to evaluate the proposed UI design. The usability results showed high satisfaction among Arab users about the role of culture in the design of the UI. Findings from this study can be used by designers and developers to aid their design of UI for group-specific cultural preferences and values.

AB - A user interface (UI) design that meets the preferences, differences, and needs of the group of users can potentially increase the usability of a system. Users, in general, feel more familiar with the context that reflects their cultural values and practices. The Arabic culture plays a significant role in how Arab users interact and communicate with technologies. The customs, artifacts, and traditions of the Arab world are different in nature from the Western cultures. Thus, it is essential to consider these differences when designing the UI prototype. This study investigated the role of certain cultural preferences in the design of UI for Arab users. A think-aloud approach and Hofstede's cultural dimensions were used on 23 Arab users to generate the necessary design guidelines for the UI of mobile health application. Then, 78 participants were recruited to evaluate the proposed UI design. The usability results showed high satisfaction among Arab users about the role of culture in the design of the UI. Findings from this study can be used by designers and developers to aid their design of UI for group-specific cultural preferences and values.

KW - Arab users

KW - culture

KW - HCI

KW - Hofstede dimensions

KW - mobile UI design

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85101717232

U2 - 10.1017/S0890060421000019

DO - 10.1017/S0890060421000019

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85101717232

SN - 0890-0604

VL - 35

SP - 116

EP - 127

JO - Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing: AIEDAM

JF - Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing: AIEDAM

IS - 1

ER -

The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: The case of Arabic

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this