COMPUTER LITERACY FOR NURSING EDUCATORS: ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS AND EDUCATION.
Contributors: University of Massachusetts (System)
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 181
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Higher.; Education, Technology.
Description: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate nursing educators' attitudes towards computers. Attention was focused on identifying whether positive or negative attitudes predominated, and if a correlation exists between attitudes and behaviors. In addition, an experimental design examined the relationship between attitude change and an inservice program designed to increase nurse educators' knowledge and improve their attitudes towards computer use.

Three null hypotheses were tested for statistical significance to (1) identify the percentage of nursing educators holding positive or negative attitudes towards computers, (2) identify if a relationship exists between nursing educators' attitudes and computer use behaviors, and (3) determine if participation in an inservice education program designed to increase knowledge, and promote positive attitudes towards computers was effective.

Attitudes towards computers and self-reported computer use behaviors were collected by mailed questionnaires to a randomly selected population of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing educators. Data on the inservice program's effectiveness came from one selected school by using an experimental and control group design. The instruments used were a/an Attitude Scale, Demographic Data Form, Current Use Instrument, and a Needs Assessment Questionnaire. Statistical analysis on existing attitudes, current use behaviors, and on inservice attitude changes were done.

The evidence points to the idea that a majority of nursing educators possess positive attitudes towards computers. A slightly positive, but non-significant, correlation exists between attitude scores and self-reported computer use behaviors. Attitudes towards computers were positive initially and did not show a change after nursing educators participated in an inservice program.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0695.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, 1987.

School code: 0118.