Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Human Resource Development

Major Professor

Ernest W. Brewer

Committee Members

Gregory Petty, Virginia Kupritz

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether or not a significant relationship existed between students' temperament styles and their degree of computer anxiety. This study sought to determine whether or not temperament style, age, gender, or computer experience significantly affected computer anxiety as measured by Getting's (1983) Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS). Three research instruments were administered during this study a demographic survey, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was used to ascertain the student's MBTI preference and temperament styles were derived from these preferences. The Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS) was used to ascertain the student's general computer anxiety level. Ninety-four (54.97%) of the respondents were female and 77 (45.03%) were male. Eleven (6.43%) of the respondents were 18 or younger, 116 (67.83%) 19 to 21, 33 (19.29%) 22 to 26, 9 (5.26%) 27 to 35, and 2 (1.19%) were 36 or older. Of the respondents, 153 (89.47%) had access to a computer at home, while 18 (10.53%) did not have the same computer access. Six (3.51%) of the respondents had less than one year of computer experience, 24 (14.04%) had one to two years, 53 (30.99%) had three to five years, and 88 (5. 46%) had more than five years. Fifty-four (31.58%) of the respondents were Guardians, 22 (12.87%) Rationals, 41 (23.98%) Artisans, and 54 (31.57%) Idealists The average raw score as measured by the Computer Anxiety Scale (COMPAS) was 102 (M = 101.96, SD = 29 59). The study found that no significant difference existed among age or temperament style and degrees of computer anxiety. The study did find a significant difference between computer experience and degrees of computer anxiety (F = 16.922, p < 001) The study also found a significant difference between gender and degrees of computer anxiety (F = 4.376, p = 038).

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