Surveys and site-based interviews and observation were used to examine the introduction of electronic mail (e-mail) into three elementary schools. A contingency model of technology adoption by organizations was used to develop the instruments and interpret the results. Surveys were given to all of the school staff to capture information on key factors such as: expectations for e-mail, influence of peers and administrators, training, technical support, and other logistical factors. On-site observation was used to expand on the findings of the surveys. Findings indicated that a majority of the contingency factors were correlated to e-mail usage and that these contingency factors also helped explain the differences in usage between the three schools.
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