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Enhancing computer self-efficacy and attitudes in multi-ethnic older adults: a randomised controlled study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

LUCIANA LAGANÁ ,
TAYLOR OLIVER ,
ANDREW AINSWORTH  and
MARC EDWARDS
LUCIANA LAGANÁ*
Affiliation:
Psychology, California State University Northridge, California, USA.
TAYLOR OLIVER
Affiliation:
Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
ANDREW AINSWORTH
Affiliation:
Psychology, California State University Northridge, California, USA.
MARC EDWARDS
Affiliation:
Psychology, California State University Northridge, California, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Luciana Laganá, Psychology, California State University Northridge (CSUN), 18111 Nordhoff St., 8255 PSY Northridge, CA 91330-8255, USA. E-mail: Luciana.Lagana@csun.edu
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Abstract

Several studies have documented the health-related benefits of older adults' use of computer technology, but before they can be realised, older individuals must be positively inclined and confident in their ability to engage in computer-based environments. To facilitate the assessment of computer technology attitudes, one aim of the longitudinal study reported in this article was to test and refine a new 22-item measure of computer technology attitudes designed specifically for older adults, as none such were available. Another aim was to replicate, on a much larger scale, the successful findings of a preliminary study that tested a computer technology training programme for older adults. Ninety-six older men and women, mainly from non-European-American backgrounds, were randomly assigned to the waitlist/control or the experimental group. The same six-week, one-on-one training was administered to the control subjects at the completion of their post-test. The revised (17-item) version of the Older Adults' Computer Technology Attitudes Scale (OACTAS) showed strong reliability: the results of a factor analysis were robust, and two analyses of covariance demonstrated that the training programme induced significant changes in attitudes and self-efficacy. Such results encourage the recruitment of older persons into training programmes aimed at increasing computer technology attitudes and self-efficacy.

Keywords

computer trainingcomputer attitudescomputer self-efficacyolder ethnic minorities
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 31 , Issue 6 , August 2011 , pp. 911 - 933
Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011. This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.

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