Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1996

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Human Ecology

Major Professor

Gregory C. Petty

Committee Members

Gerald Cheek, Carroll Coakley, Robert Maddox

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate work situation and transfer of training influences of computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy on training programs that meet individual and organization objectives of university personnel. This was accomplished by assessing the computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies of employees subsequent to training and its duration as it pertains to training usefulness. Additionally, the computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies assessment sought to determine influences on computer use for human resource placement information and to determine present training needs.

A descriptive ex post facto survey design was used to gather data from a population of 2,597 university employees. A total of 357 responses from a sample of 448 provided an overall response rate of 80% on a Computer Self-Confidence Assessment that was distributed through the campus mail system. The Computer Self-Confidence Assessment consisted of a background segment for gathering demographic information, the computer self-efficacy scale (CSE), and the self-efficacy of computer technologies scale (SCT).

Parametric statistics included multiple analysis of variance which was used to determine significant predictors of time, job type, supervision, home use, previous computer classroom training, computer use required on the job, training responsibilities, job tenure, frequency of computer use, and department of employment on computer self- efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies. The Pearson r correlation coefficient was used to determine a significant relationship between the CSE and SCT scales. Descriptive statistics including frequency counts, standard deviations and means were used for categorizing the background information.

Major findings of the study were: (a) computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies were sustained over a 2 1/2 year period, (b) job type predicted computer self-efficacy, (c) previous classroom computer training in database management predicted computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies, while previous classroom computer training in statistical processing predicted self-efficacy in computer technologies, (d) computer use required on the job in database management, spreadsheets, programming, and educational software predicted computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies, (e) frequency of computer use, home computer use, and training responsibility predicted computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies. A second MANOVA procedure revealed several significant interactions among significant independent variables and subscales on independent variables. The second MANOVA procedure also revealed that only job type and independent variable computer use required on the job subscale of programming were significant predictors of computer self-efficacy and self-efficacy of computer technologies.

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