Discussion of computer usage and familiarity focuses on an empirical study of college students that investigated the relationship between computer familiarity and cognitive ability. Results are reported that indicate a positive correlation between high scores on cognitive ability tests and computer usage, but no gender differences are reported.…

Investigates the effects of mathematics anxiety and sex on attitudes related to achievement in computer literacy: computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer liking. Over 350 students in junior high, secondary, and college classes were involved. (MNS)

Investigated sex differences in computer attitude and aptitude and the relationship of these variables, math aptitude, math anxiety, and scholastic achievement to computer involvement among college freshmen (N=941). Sex differences were found in attitudes, computer aptitude, and math prerequisites. Computer aptitude related to math ability and…

Examines the structure of undergraduate computing at a large private university, including patterns of use, impact of computer ownership and gender, and the bureaucratic structure in which usage is embedded. The profile of computer use uncovered in a survey is compared with reports offered by the institution and the trade press. (10 references)…

Discussion of measuring computer-related attitudes of students focuses on the development of a new measure of attitudes toward computers for use with undergraduate students that operationalizes the affective attitudinal domain independently of the behavioral or cognitive intentions. Reliability and validity are addressed, and gender differences…

Since the fall of 1985, teacher education students in the state of Texas have been required to take a computer literacy course as part of their certification requirements. Since 1986, students entering into Texas Tech University's College of Education's computer literacy course (EDIT 2318) have been surveyed each fall semester. The purpose of this…

Argues that computers are a medium through which different styles of scientific thought can be observed. Presents cases of women whose learning styles differ from the way that programing and problem solving in computer-related activities are taught. Concludes that technological developments involving object-oriented programing have created an…

Investigates students' experience of computers and their feelings about computers at the start of a one-year secondary postgraduate teacher training course. Reports on students' perceptions of their knowledge of computers and confidence when starting to learn how to use computers along with their ratings of the importance of teachers knowing about…

Reports a study that examined the attitudes, experiences, and skills of students entering a typical introductory college computing course. Survey data indicated that students had generally positive attitudes toward computers. Computer anxiety was greater among females. Most students viewed themselves as moderately competent with computers. (SM)

The purpose of this paper was to identify the role of several person variables (gender, mathematics competency, attitudes toward statistics, computer competency, and grade point average) contributing to success in introductory statistics. The performance of 103 students on four examinations during a semester constituted the dependent variable. A…

Introduces special series of articles on females and computers. Discusses women's involvement in early computer history and possible reasons for and consequences of sex differences in computer applications including the computer as object of study, recreational device, or general purpose tool. (SA)

Many entering freshmen lack computing skills. Minority students and women of low socioeconomic status are particularly susceptible to academic failure when they are ill-equipped to meet faculty demands for computer-assisted coursework. Reasons for these "deficiencies" are explored. The author also describes courses developed to assist…

In an introductory computer course taught by a woman, 46 students received standard instruction, 46 received additional verbally persuasive lectures; the control group numbered 56. Classroom instruction and hands-on practice increased task and general self-efficacy regarding computers. Verbal persuasion effects were inconclusive; the intervention…

Describes study that tested the validity of the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS) with MBA students. Demographic traits and cognitive styles are considered, the effect of computer courses on computer anxiety is studied, and factor analysis is used to assess the construct validity of the CARS. (24 references) (LRW)

A survey of undergraduates found that common computer applications were used by 84 to 90 percent, and 89 percent believed their computer skills are adequate for professors' needs. About 25 percent considered themselves advanced computer users, and most had learned common applications informally. Differences existed between males and females in the…