Computer Anxiety: A Longitudinal Study and Discourse Analysis Investigation

Abstract

Two studies on computer anxiety among undergraduate students are briefly reported. Using a computer anxiety questionnaire, the first study showed that various aspects of students’ (N = 44) computer anxiety and feelings of alienation decreased by necessary, but non-intensive use of microcomputers over a period of a year. In the second study, three computer-anxious and three computer-confident students were interviewed about their attitudes to computers; and the resultant discourse was analysed using a computerized form of discourse analysis. The studies provide a stimulus for further exploration of longitudinal attitude change to information technology and using discourse analysis as a method for studying attitudes and feelings about computers.