Resumen

Assessment of the quality of university websites in Ecuador during 2023 using Principal Component Analysis. RCTU [online]. 2024, vol.11, n.2, pp.112-120. ISSN 1390-7697.  https://doi.org/10.26423/rctu.v11i2.845.

This article presents the results of the evaluation of the quality of the official websites of 62 universities and polytechnic schools in Ecuador. The study is exploratory, correlational, and cross-sectional, and analyzes the structure, design, information, and tools available on the official websites of these institutions through content analysis. The methodology begins with an extensive literature review on tools, methods, and techniques to assess website quality. Based on this review, a heuristic tool was developed consisting of 55 quality indicators that verify the existence and functionality of the essential features of the websites. Data processing was carried out using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique with the R programming language, which allowed the identification of six main components explaining 53.85% of the data variability. Additionally, the generation of HJ-Biplot charts enabled the graphical exploration of the correlations between the quality indicators and the comparison of the similarities and differences of the websites analyzed. This also helped identify areas of excellence and aspects that require improvement in the design of these platforms. The results highlight that a well-thought-out web design is characterized by being intuitive and functional, which significantly enhances the digital image and reputation of higher education institutions. Furthermore, it is evident that institutions with better-rated websites convey greater institutional trust and generate higher satisfaction among students, demonstrating a positive relationship between quality web design and a positive perception of the institution.

Palabras clave : Web quality; Principal Component Analysis (PCA); HJ-Biplot charts..