Abstract

This thesis discusses those elements of web design that may create different impact on people from distinct cultures, specifically Arab versus Western cultures. Since the inception of the Internet, there has been only one set of standards in designing web sites (including education sites), essentially American standards. This thesis tries to determine whether different users (Arabs in particular) read sites differently, or react differently to interface design elements such as color, graphics, and arrangement. For instance, do Arabic speaking users have different preferences for placement of elements on the page due to the fact that the Arabic language reads from right to left, in contrast to the English language, which reads from left to right? The research starts with a literature review, including an examination of cross-cultural issues and a summary of the American standards used in designing web sites. Questionnaires were composed, based on the literature review, to survey designers for the Arabic market and both Arabic and North American users providing the research with rich data used in compiling the results and establishing recommendations. These recommendations are potentially useful for designers trying to design and develop for the Arabian market, as well as for designers targeting other cultural groups. The results and recommendations may also help other researchers seeking more information in the areas of culture and Internet use