An Examination of the Factor Structures of the Computer Attitude Scale

Abstract

Previous research regarding the popular Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) has indicated that the computer confidence and computer anxiety subscales measure the same trait. This study, utilizing data yielded from 208 educators, obtained estimates of the reliability of the four subscale version of the forty item CAS; provided detailed information regarding the factor patterns of the CAS subscales; and provided evidence about the differential validity of the CAS among four groups with differing intensity of computer usage. Correlations and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyze the data. The results confirm that the confidence and anxiety subscales are a continuum. A new, smaller, subscale was created to reflect this relationship. Further, a new factor, attitudes toward academic endeavors associated with computer training, was named. The CAS may now be interpreted as a thirty-four-item scale addressing computer liking, perceived usefulness of computers, computer confidence/anxiety, and attitudes toward academic endeavors associated with computer training.

Measuring attitudes towards general technology: Antecedents, hypotheses and scale development

“…Wishart 63 found that increasing age was correlated with internal LOC. Nash and Moroz, 64 investigating the effects of positive attitudes towards computers, found no significant age effect. They do, however, report a correlation between age and experience, and that experience was related to 'computer liking'.…”

Determining Causes and Severity of End-User Frustration

“…Previous research indicates that level of computer experience or perception of computer self-efficacy can affect subsequent user behavior (Brosnan 1998;Murphy, Coover, & Owen 1989). The authors chose the questions for this study after reviewing previous research on the Computer Aptitude Scale, assessing computer attitudes, computer anxiety-confidence, and computer liking (Loyd & Gressard 1984;Nash & Moroz 1997). These studies suggested that prior experience and level of perceived knowledge would affect an individual's level of frustration as well.…”

A Review on Factors Impinges Computer Usage in Education

“…Hunt and Bohlin [63] found that the confidence subscale of Loyd and Gressard [62] was predicted by computer use for recreation and experience in word processing, programming and databases. Similarly, Nash and Moroz [64] found that Loyd and Gressard's [62] confidence subscale explained 32% of the variance in scores measuring intensity of computer usage. In addition, Zammit [65] not only found that non-users rated a lack of self-confidence among factors that hindered their use of computers but found a significant difference in selfconfidence between users and non-users.…”