Students' attitudes toward computers: Validation of a computer attitude scale for 16–19 education

The development of an instrument for measuring the attitudes toward computers of students aged 16-19 years is described, found to have both a high internal reliability coefficient and test-retest reliability, and significant construct validity.

Abstract

There is a strong need for both educators and researchers to be aware of students' attitudes toward using and interacting with computers in 16–19 education (i.e. year levels 12–14)-but as yet little work has been carried out in this area. This article therefore describes the development of an instrument for measuring the attitudes toward computers of students aged 16–19 years. Initial item selection produced a pilot scale consisting of 49 items which was administered to 266 students. Subsequent factor analysis revealed four structurally independent attitude constructs and justified retention of 21 of the original items. The revised scale was then administered to 87 Year 12–14 students for formal validation. The full instrument was found to have both a high internal reliability coefficient (0.90) and test-retest reliability (0.93), and significant construct validity (P<0.001).