Considerations on the Implications of the Internet of Things in Spanish Universities: The Usefulness Perceived by Professors

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have attached a file with suggestions and corrections.

1. Needs moderate language editing- especially to remove extra words and phrases such as Thus, on the one hand, etc. clean and simple sentences would work much better.
2. Describe UTAUT as a theory and the best empirical supports to it in the literature review. It is a lot more important than describing IoT.
3. When describing each construct in the UTAUT define give example items and unfold empirical results from previous studies. Even if they are not about IoT they should be about tech adoption in higher education (there are a lot of them out there).
4. Need correction for t-test to prevent capitalizing on chance and MUST include effect sizes.
5. You need to attend to the PE SI high correlation. The reason SI did not show up anything is that SI and PE measure the same thing- please discuss in relation to previous studies and perhaps IoT
6. I believe the differences are very small and may warrant a lot less attention from an effect size perspective.
7. How did you correct the t test for the difference in cell size?
8. Why is age 35 the dividing point? Justify!
9. What does it all mean- more discussion compared to previous results in UTAUT and higher ed.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer, thank you for your comments. You have certainly substantially improved the manuscript. In the attached file I add the response and how each of your suggestions has been addressed.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

1. The title is too long.

Title: I think this title fits better

Application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the Spanish university: Usefulness perceived by professors

2. Abstract:

• more specific
• (M = 35.18; SD = 6.97)… I believe this information can be omitted in the abstract section
• clarify the conclusions of the abstract

3. The results showed that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and attitude toward using technology were influential in behavioural intention to use IoT. While the intention for use was similar between men and women and with respect to age.

What about the influence of the type of university? IoT applications influence is the same in a medical and in a technical university?

4. Keywords: Internet of Things; IoT; Innovative teaching practices; adoption factors; UTAUT; higher education.

Internet of Things; IoT ….it is the same thing…..

Add Spain as a keyword

5. However, in the different constructs of the UTAUT model, the highest average scores were obtained in men and in teachers over 36 years of age. Do you have an explanation?
6. Typing errors or incomplete sentences:

The globalization of commercial transactions, the flow of people and the rise of the well-known information and communication technologies (ICT), has conceived a new relational paradigm of interaction between humans and objects [2, 3]…… Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)…..capital letters.

Row 68: In this sense, the current period in which we live can be classified according to various aspects

In this sense, the current period in which we live can be classified according to various aspects. (point at the end of the sentence)

As well as the reconstitution of training delivery systems Previous studies show that for this technology to become a reality in higher education, attitudes towards IoT and material access, as well as educational and income differences, need to be taken into account and not generate inequalities and therefore a possible rejection of its implementation [3].

As well as the reconstitution of training delivery systems previous studies…..

            Row 116: “Several studies conclude that PE significantly influences the intention to use”. Incomplete sentence. To use what?

            Row 125: This construct has shown in previous studies to have a significant impact on the intention to use – the same observation.

            Row 142: This construct has been related as an influential factor in the intention to use – the same observation   

7. Wrong forms of some sentences:

Regarding the limitations of the work, it is in the possible incorporation of other independent constructs in the conformation of the UTAUT model, like the experience of the teaching staff with IoT or Voluntariness of use.

8. In the text you use quite often the name Internet of Things but also the acronym IoT.

I think it is better to use the full name at the beginning of the paper and later only the acronym.

10. The title is “Application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the Spanish university: Usefulness perceived by professors”…….Inside your paper almost nothing about concrete Applications of the IoT in the Spanish universities???? Only in general about some implications of IoT in higher education….potential benefits…..some opportunities…..but I repeat in general not for Spanish universities
11. H2: Gender is a factor that has a significant effect on performance expectancy of IoT.

H8: Gender is a factor that has a significant effect on social influence of IoT.

H11: Gender is a factor that has a significant effect on facilitating conditions of IoT.

The sample of university professors was composed of 162 men (27.6%) and 425 women (72.4%)……..in these conditions (your sample has only 27.6% mens) is possible to validate or invalidate H2, H8 or H 11 ???!!!

• The Results section is ended by “Figure 2”. I recommend you to finish the section with some conclusions regarding the results

• Row 271: Thus, based on the age of the participants, the results showed that teachers aged 36 and older had higher scores than those who were younger. Quite unclear. Higher scores on what? Please make it more clear.

13. Conclusions

     For this reason, the aim of this study was to find out the degree of acceptance of IoT among Spanish university teachers. This affirmation is not really supported in the body text. In your Results and Discussions, you did not mentioned something about this. In what degree IoT is accepted by the Spanish university teachers?   

14. Finally, the topic is interesting, especially in the context of this pandemic. I suggest you to clarify the importance and the contribution of the paper. Secondly, I recommend you to take in consideration you initial goal. You should mention about the degree of acceptance IoT in the are of Spanish teachers and make reference to this in all the sections.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer, thank you for your comments. You have certainly substantially improved the manuscript. In the attached file I add the response and how each of your suggestions has been addressed.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report