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)…

This paper considers the effect of computer use (word processing) on the compositions written by minority college freshmen in basic writing courses, focusing in particular on differences in composition quality and the kinds of thinking evidenced in the essay, as well as determining whether any differences were gender related. Subjects were 40…

Reports on a survey investigating instructional technology knowledge and experience in the faculty of a midwestern university. Results showed that faculty had the highest levels of knowledge and experience with word processing and video and used these most frequently. The importance of technology and the influences of educational environment,…

Assesses the microcomputer's effects on the process and quality of business writing, focusing on writing anxiety, computer anxiety, time spent in writing, writing quality, and the relationship of gender to these variables. Concludes that the most significant predictor of quality is initial writing ability. (MM)

Describes study that was conducted at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to examine variables that determine which undergraduates use microcomputers and how often they use them. Computer access, expected future computer use, and prior computer experience are discussed, and the influences of gender and class rank are examined. (17…

An analysis of 87 undergraduate questionnaires found that students' perceived increased levels of expertise in 25 skills after taking a self-paced word processing and worksheet/spreadsheet applications course. Examined the relationship between age, gender, race, and grades, and found a positive correlation between grades and perceptions in…

Describes study of students at a two-year community college that was conducted to examine descriptive references to a computer for differences in interactive styles when reporting success and failure experiences while using a computer for word processing. Differences that relate to gender and computer experience are also analyzed. (18 references)…

Investigates stereotypes of male and female undergraduates at Leicester University who had experience with computer programming, word processing, or computer games. The application of 16 personality attributes from a previous study is discussed, and gender differences in the perception of the 3 computer uses are considered. (LRW)

Discussion of the role of computers in teaching basic writers to write focuses on a study of college students that examined the quality of student essays produced with word processing versus paper and pencil, described the kinds of thinking evidenced, and investigated whether any differences were gender related. (20 references) (LRW)

Differences in computer use, attitude, and efficacy between female and male college freshmen were studied. It was found that when computer training was integrated into classroom work, sex differences in attitude and use declined. Unstructured, voluntary exposure to computers, however, elicited responses suggesting opposing mechanisms for females…

This paper describes the results of a study of the microcomputer use patterns reflected by more than 13,000 users' records from the microcomputer laboratory at Western Kentucky University for 1983 to 1986. The data analyzed focused on: (1) numbers of users; (2) frequent user groups; (3) sex differences; (4) prime time usage; (5) the use of…

Describes project at Bradley University that equipped freshman residence hall rooms with microcomputers. Highlights include student characteristics; academic performance; surveys of use of microcomputers; networking versus stand-alone uses; duration of computer use times and times of day of use; and sex differences in computer use. (Three…

Describes a study of student teachers that examined determinants of achievement in a computer literacy course. Correlations with measures of computer attitudes, perceived locus of control, gender, age, and prior word processing and computer experience are discussed, and the computer literacy model on which the analysis of data was based is…

This pretest/posttest study measured the change in computer literacy and attitudes toward computers among 36 preservice teachers enrolled in an introductory computer training course that was focused on developing programing skills. Independent variables included age, gender, locus of control, final grade in the course, and prior experience in word…