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A Qualitative Study Into The Cultural Differences Between Latin American And Germanic Students In Their User Experience With Website Tutorials
Serednicki, Isabela (2025) A Qualitative Study Into The Cultural Differences Between Latin American And Germanic Students In Their User Experience With Website Tutorials.
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| Abstract: | Aim: This study aims to explore to what extent students from Latin American cultures perceive website tutorials differently from students from Germanic cultures, addressing the lack of comparative research on cultural differences in the user experience of digital instructions. Background and Relevance: By utilizing Hofstede’s cultural dimension of Uncertainty Avoidance (UA), the study investigates the extent of how cultural backgrounds influence users’ expectations and perception of website tutorials when performing simple tasks on a demo website, adding to the limited literature comparing Latin American and Germanic perspectives in a user experience (UX) context. Research Question: The research question this study aims to answer is to what extent do Latin American students perceive tutorials differently to Germanic students? Methods: A qualitative design was used with sixteen university students, eight of each cultural group, who completed a controlled task on a demo blog-post website (“MyLore”) using either a short (Tutorial A) or long (Tutorial B) tutorial. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, thematically analysed, and coded to compare perceptions of usefulness, efficiency, trust, and overall attitude towards tutorials. Discussion: The analysis from the interviews confirm that cultural background of users can affect their user experience and their perception of website tutorials as explored by previous research Latin American participants displayed a stronger preference for structured guidance and a positive perception towards both tutorials, while Germanic participants share the preference of not needing a tutorial. This expands on the previously lacking literature that compares the cultures of Latin America and Germanic countries. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that cultural background, when analysed with the Hofstede dimension of Uncertainty Avoidance, influences students’ perceptions of website tutorials. Websites should consider adapting tutorial formats that better fit the server region in which they are accessed, ensuring instructions accommodate users’ expectations given their cultural background. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Science BSc (56615) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107083 |
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