Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

6-1987

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

John I. Matthews

Committee Members

Walter A. Cameron, Clifton P. Campbell, Oscar S. Fowler

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare college students’ attitudes toward using personal computers at the beginning and end of a computer course by age, sex, marital status, educational level, and experience.

A questionnaire containing 40 statements about students' attitudes and perceptions toward computers was developed. Forty-four students enrolled in three introductory computer classes at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville during the Winter quarter of 1987 completed the questionnaires at the beginning and end of the quarter. The data were collected and then analyzed using t-tests to determine whether there was a significant difference in students' attitudes.

The findings of the study relating to students' atti tudes toward using computers were:

1. There was no change in the overall student attitudes between the beginning and end of the term.

2. Age, sex, marital status, educational level, and experience in using computers did not significantly influence the overall attitudes of students.

It was concluded that an introductory course does not significantly change students' attitudes about using computers.

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