Comparing attitudes towards computer usage by undergraduates from 1986 to 2005

The importance and use of computers has increased dramatically over the last two decades. The Attitudes Towards Computer Usage Scale (ATCUS) was developed in 1986 [Popovich, P. M., Hyde, K. R., Zakrajsek, T., & Blumer, C. (1987). The development of the attitudes toward computer usage scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47, 261–269.] and used in a variety of settings over the years. In order to examine how computer attitudes have changed from 1986 to 2005, the ATCUS was given to 254 male and female current undergraduate students. When comparing the 1986 with 2005 results, the amount of time spent using a computer was still positively related to computer attitudes; however, the number of college computer courses was not. There is no longer a significant relationship among any of the factors with college computer courses. Males and females no longer significantly differ in their attitudes toward computers, number of college computer courses, amount of time spent using computers, or degree of self-reported computer anxiety. Implications are discussed.