Computer anxiety: relationship with computer experience and prevalence

The youngest sample with the presumably earliest exposure to computerization reported the highest computer anxiety scores and demonstrated the highest prevalence rates.

Abstract

The study investigated: (1) the form of the relationship between scores on computer anxiety and scores on computer experience; and (2) differences in computer anxiety scores and prevalence rates between groups of individuals with presumably differential early exposure to computer-based technology. Questionnaire data from three British samples, which included 228 managers and professionals, 67 graduate students and 220 undergraduate students, were analyzed. Logarithmic values of scores on computer experience were compared with raw computer experience scores in predicting scores on computer anxiety. Logarithmic values consistently entered the regression equations at the expense of raw values. Substantial computer anxiety prevalence rates were identified in all samples. The youngest sample with the presumably earliest exposure to computerization reported the highest computer anxiety scores and demonstrated the highest prevalence rates. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for data analysis tactics and for the trend regarding the presence and prevalence of computer anxiety.