Facing Difficulties in Learning Computer Applications EDU 776(Issues in Education) Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Masters of Arts in Education (Concentration in Adult Education) Submitted by Najamuddin Mohammed Student Number 246244 Submitted to Dr. Sue DuFord (Project Instructor) November 20 2007
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Facing Difficulties in Learning Computer Applications
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Facing Difficulties in Learning Computer Applications
EDU 776(Issues in Education)
Research Project
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Degree of Masters of Arts in Education
(Concentration in Adult Education)
Submitted by
Najamuddin Mohammed
Student Number
246244
Submitted to
Dr. Sue DuFord
(Project Instructor)
November 20 2007
1
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine how the factors of personal
access time to computer technology and computer skills can lead to the fear of
learning new computer applications from students in Central Michigan
University's Master of Arts in Education cohorts 19 and 20 at Humber College. A
survey questionnaire was administered and the results were analyzed to see how
strong correlations exists between fear of learning new computer applications
and the factors of access to computer technology, computer literacy and access
to computer technology support.
It was discovered that there is a strong negative correlation between
computer skills and the fear of learning new computer applicants. There was a
moderate negative correlation between access time and the fear of learning new
computer applications and finally there was a small negative correlation between
factor of having adequate support and the fear of learning new computer
applications. Spearman rank correlation statistical analysis methodology was
used to determine if correlations did exists and strength of the correlations.
Further research is needed on determining on how factors of computer skills,
computer technology access and computer support are correlated.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM DEFINED…………………………………….………6
Background Statement ………………………………………………….……..6
Problem Statement…………………………………………………………...…7
Purpose of Study……………………………………………………………......7
Research Questions…………………………………………………………….8
Definitions of Terms………………….….……………………………………...8
Limitations of Study……………………..………………………………………9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………….…10
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY……………………………………………….…….18
Population/Sample…………………………………………………………….18
Data Collection Method(s) …………………………………………….……..18
Data Analysis Method(s) ……………………………………………………..19
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS……………………………………………….…….23
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS…….32
Survey questions dealing with access and support were given in “Yes/No”
format and then translated into 5-point Likert Scale with “Yes” responses given
value of four and “No” responses value of two (see Table 2)
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Table 2: DATA OBTAINED FROM RESEARCH SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES
Access Survey Questions
Total Ranked Score
Support Survey Questions
Total Ranked Score
Participant Yes =4 No = 2 /25 Yes = 4
No = 2 /25
1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 20 No Yes No Yes No 14 2 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes Yes Yes No No 16 3 No No Yes No Yes 14 Yes No Yes No *3 13 4 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 No No Yes Yes No 14 5 Yes Yes Yes No No 16 Yes Yes Yes Yes No 18 6 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes Yes No Yes No 16 7 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes No Yes No Yes 16 8 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes Yes No Yes *3 17 9 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes No No Yes No 14
10 Yes No No No Yes 14 Yes No No Yes *3 15 11 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes Yes No No Yes 16 12 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 20 Yes Yes No Yes Yes 18 13 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes No Yes Yes No 16 14 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 20 Yes Yes No No *3 13 15 Yes Yes No No Yes 16 16 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 17 Yes No Yes No Yes 16 18 Yes Yes Yes No Yes 18 Yes Yes No Yes Yes 18 19 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 20 No Yes
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Table3: SPEARMAN’S RANK CORRELATION COEFFICIENT: TESTING FOR
CORRELATION BETWEEEN FEAR AND ACCESS
X = Fear Results Y = Access Results Ranks for Raw Data for Pairs X Y X Y
Table 3: Data analysis provided: http://faculty.vassar.edu/lowry/VassarStats.html using Ordinal Data link and then selecting Rank Order Correlation weblink to enter data. Accuracy of data analysis was double checked using:
Wessa, P. (2007), Free Statistics Software, Office for Research Development and
Education,
version 1.1.22-r2, URL http://www.wessa.net/
All rights reserved. Academic license for non-commercial use only.
Data was entered in at: http://www.wessa.net/rankcorr.wasp to get the following
P one tailed = 0.000053 P two tailed = 0.000105 n = 19 Rs = -0.7725 t = -5.02 Df = 17
Table 4: Data analysis provided: http://faculty.vassar.edu/lowry/VassarStats.html using Ordinal Data link and then selecting Rank Order Correlation weblink to enter data.
Accuracy of data analysis was double checked using: Wessa, P. (2007), Free Statistics Software, Office for Research
Development and Education,
version 1.1.22-r2, URL http://www.wessa.net/
All rights reserved. Academic license for non-commercial use only.
Data was entered in at: http://www.wessa.net/rankcorr.wasp to get the following results:
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Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Rho) = -0.772506 95% CI for rho (Fisher's Z transformed) = -0.908086 to -0.49035 Upper side P > 0.9999 (H1: positive correlation)
Lower side P < 0.0001 (H1: negative correlation)
Two sided P = 0.0002 (H1: any correlation)
Since spearman rank correlation coefficient is near value of negative one there is
a strong negative correlation between two factors that were measured. Null
Hypothesis is rejected and Alternative Hypothesis is accepted.
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Table 5: SPEARMAN’S RANK CORRELATION COEFFICIENT: TESTING FOR
CORRELATION BETWEEEN FEAR AND SUPPORT
X = Fear Results Y = Support Results Ranks for Raw Data for Pairs X Y X Y
P one tailed = 0.418462 P two tailed = 0.836923 n = 15 Rs = -0.0581 t = -0.21 Df = 13
Table 5: Data analysis provided: http://faculty.vassar.edu/lowry/VassarStats.html using Ordinal Data link and then selecting Rank Order Correlation weblink to enter data.
Accuracy of data analysis was double checked using:
Wessa, P. (2007), Free Statistics Software, Office for Research
Development and Education,
version 1.1.22-r2, URL http://www.wessa.net/
All rights reserved. Academic license for non-commercial use only.
Data was entered in at: http://www.wessa.net/rankcorr.wasp to get the
Appendix B: Letter of Permission to distribute Survey
February 28, 2007
Mr. Najamuddin Mohammed
24 Mabelle Avenue, Suite 402
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9A4X7
Dear Mr. Mohammed, I have reviewed the materials sent by Dr. DuFord regarding your study of the perceptions of CMU graduate students concerning personal access time to computer technology and how computer skills affect learning new computer applications. Your research protocol appears to be in keeping with that policy, thus, I gladly extend permission for you to distribute surveys to the subject pool described.
Good luck in this undertaking.
Very truly yours,
Jamie B. Slater, Ed.D. Director of Organizational Research and Assessment
Off-Campus Programs Central Michigan University
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Appendix C: Consent Form for Research Questionnaire
Central Michigan University
February 12, 2007
From: Najamuddin Mohammed
Dear: Participant
I am interested in determining how the factors of and personal access time to computer technology and computer skills can lead to the fear of learning new computer applications from students in Central Michigan University's Master of Arts in Education cohorts 19 and 20 at Humber College. My intent is to use the results to formulate a strategy to minimize the fear of learning computer applications among adult learners. You have been selected to participate in this study because we had participated in a Central Michigan University class in Master of Arts in Education program together. This study is in partial fulfillment of Master of Arts in Education program with concentration in Adult Education. The enclosed questionnaire is designed to obtain information about your computer skills and personal access time to computer technology while taking place Central Michigan University courses. This study has been approved by university's review board. Your responses will be anonymous and seriously considered in developing the planned strategy. At your request summary of results of the survey can be provided to you as well as a copy of the complete study. I would appreciate your completion of the questionnaire by March 21. Taking into consideration that your schedule is busy and your time is valuable. However, we hope that the 20 minutes it will take you to complete the questionnaire it will help lead to better understanding how to overcome fear of learning new computer applications. Thank you in advance for your participation. If you have questions about the study, you can contact me at 416-891-3967 or email me at [email protected] with your concerns. You may also contact my faculty advisor for this study Dr. Susan DuFord: [email protected]
Yours truly,
Najamuddin Mohammed
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Appendix D: Survey
Survey Questions Skills: For next set of questions use the following scale to record your answers: Excellent = 5, Above Average = 4, Average = 3, Below Average = 2, Extremely Poor = 1 1. How would rate your computer skills? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 2. How would you describe your personal experience with computer applications? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 3. How easily are you able to learn new computer applications? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 4. How would you describe your personal experience using the Internet? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 5. How you rate your Internet skills?
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Access: 6. Do you have computer access at home? a)Yes b) No Answer: 7. Do you have enough personal access time to use your computer effectively? a)Yes b) No Answer: 8. Do you have high speed internet access at home? a)Yes b) No Answer: 9. Do you spend 20 hours or more online at home? a)Yes b) No Answer: 10. Do you use your internet access to look up services and find answers to questions you have? a)Yes b) No Answer:
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Fear: For next set of questions use the following scale to record your answers: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Undecided = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1 11. Do you have some concerns/fears when it comes to learning new computer applications? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 12. Are you afraid you will be left behind your fellow classmates when it comes to learning new computer applications? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 13. If you had more time with computer technology and applications would it be less intimidating for you to learn new computer applications. 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 14. Do you find it difficult to navigate through all the features and options in computer applications? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer: 15. Are you fearful when it comes to learning a computer application on your own? 1 2 3 4 5 Answer:
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Support: 16. Is there someone you can turn to when it comes to problems you are using or learning new computer applications? a)Yes b) No Answer: 17. If you were able to access to new computer applications from home would this help you in learning to using them? a)Yes b) No Answer: 18. Would you require a computer lab setting with an instructor to learn a new computer application? a)Yes b) No Answer: 19. Do you use the help features in computer applications when trying to learn them? a)Yes b) No Answer: 20. Are computer applications intuitive enough? a)Yes b) No Answer: