Computer Anxiety: "Trait" or "State"?

A recurring question in the study of computer anxiety is whether computer anxiety is a relatively stable personality trait or a mutable, temporary state. The two studies reported examined this question in two groups of first year psychology students. These students were requested to complete a computer anxiety test, a trait anxiety test, and a state anxiety test. Some groups were administered the tests in a pen and paper format, while others were tested using computerized tests. In the first study, a Dutch version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used; in the second study, a Dutch adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. In both studies, computer anxiety turned out to be related more strongly to trait anxiety than to state anxiety. In fact, there was no relationship between computer anxiety and state anxiety in the pen and paper format. In the computerized versions however, computer anxiety and state anxiety were related, suggesting that state anxiety in situations involving a computer is caused by pre-existing computer anxiety.

[1]  Jean-Philippe Gaudron,et al.  Assessing computer anxiety with the interaction model of anxiety: development and validation of the computer anxiety trait subscale , 2002, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[2]  G. A. Marcoulides,et al.  A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Computer Anxiety in College Students , 1990 .

[3]  Jelte M. Wicherts,et al.  Modelpassing van de Verkorte Profile of Mood States en meetinvariantie over mannen en vrouwen , 2004 .

[4]  Henk G. Schmidt,et al.  The structure of computer anxiety: a six-factor model , 2001, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[5]  H. Yaghi,et al.  Teachers' Computer Anxiety: An International Perspective , 1998 .

[6]  D. Mahar,et al.  Construct validity of computer anxiety as measured by the Computer Attitudes Scale , 1995 .

[7]  Mark Brosnan,et al.  The Impact of Psychological Gender, Gender-Related Perceptions, Significant Others, and the Introducer of Technology upon Computer Anxiety in Students , 1998 .

[8]  P. Bentler,et al.  Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis : Conventional criteria versus new alternatives , 1999 .

[9]  R. L. Babcock,et al.  Computer anxiety in young and older adults: Implications for human-computer interactions in older populations , 1997 .

[10]  Larry D. Rosen,et al.  Myths and realities of computerphobia: A meta-analysis , 1990 .

[11]  James C. McElroy,et al.  Computer Anxiety and Computer-Based Training: A Laboratory Experiment , 1990 .

[12]  Larry D. Rosen,et al.  Treating technophobia: A longitudinal evaluation of the computerphobia reduction program , 1993 .

[13]  G. J. Mellenbergh,et al.  De verkorte versie van de Nederlandse vertaling van de Profile of Mood States (POMS). , 1990 .

[14]  S. Shacham,et al.  A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States. , 1983, Journal of personality assessment.

[15]  R. Rombouts,et al.  Onderzoek naar de equivalentie van computer- en papier-en-potloodversies van enkele psychologische vragenlijsten , 1989 .

[16]  Mark Tessler,et al.  DETERMINANTS, AND CONSEQUENCES , 1988 .

[17]  P. B. Defares,et al.  Handleiding bij de Zelf-beoordelings Vragenlijst ZBV. Een nederlandstalige bewerking van de Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory , 1980 .

[18]  Michael R. Simonson,et al.  Development of a Standardized Test of Computer Literacy and a Computer Anxiety Index , 1987 .

[19]  Ralf Schwarzer,et al.  Advances in Test Anxiety Research , 1984 .

[20]  Vincent Mor,et al.  Measuring cancer patients' affect: Revision and psychometric properties of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). , 1989 .

[21]  Larry D. Rosen,et al.  The etiology of computerphobia , 1990 .

[22]  M. Lorr,et al.  Manual for the Profile of Mood States , 1971 .

[23]  Valerie L. Worthington,et al.  Existential Computer Anxiety and Changes in Computer Technology: What Past Research on Computer Anxiety Has Missed , 1999 .

[24]  Joseph B. Sidowski,et al.  Measurements of computer anxiety: A review , 1993, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[25]  C. Spielberger,et al.  Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory , 1970 .

[26]  Roy M. Bohlin,et al.  Course Structure Effects on Students' Computer Anxiety, Confidence and Attitudes , 1995 .

[27]  Clarice P. Gressard,et al.  Reliability and Factorial Validity of Computer Attitude Scales , 1984 .

[28]  N. Endler,et al.  Multidimensionality of state and trait anxiety: factor structure of the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales. , 1991, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[29]  Karl G. Jöreskog,et al.  Lisrel 8: Structural Equation Modeling With the Simplis Command Language , 1993 .

[30]  Henk M. Van Der Ploeg,et al.  Anxiety, anger and depression: Relationships at the trait level , 1990 .