The Development of Computer-Related Attitudes of Secondary Students

The pretest/posttest study measured the computer-related attitudes of grade eight and grade eleven students, the correlates of these attitudes, and the gains in these attitudes. The attitudes were measured along six dimensions: Anxiety, Confidence, Liking, Interest, Gender Equity, and Acceptance. The results of the study indicate that the computer-related attitudes of secondary students are positive, stable and resistant to change. Gender differences among these attitudes were found to be school dependent and to diminish as students mature except in the case of Gender Equity where gender differences were minimal at the grade eight level but very pronounced at the grade eleven level. Unstructured computer experiences and word processing experience accounted for the greatest variance of all attitude dimensions. Tests indicated that gains in attitudes were independent of gender, computer training and computer course achievement.