Computer anxiety has been identified as a prominent drawback to many freshmen in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions in Nigeria. It is a known fact that inadequate computer skills coupled with computer anxiety are linked to attrition rate and poor academic performance among distance learners who by exigency should utilise computer to bridge the transactional and interactional distance that exist between them, their faciltatots/tutors and other relevant personnel. This is capable of jeopardising learners’ adjustment, performance and general coping capacity. The study investigated computer anxiety among distance learning freshmen in the only single mode ODL institution in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive design of survey type while the population comprised all fresh students of the National Open University of Nigeria in the South-West geo-political zone of Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study. The simple random sampling technique was used to select three Study Centres of the National Open University of Nigeria in South-West, Nigeria. The convenience sampling method was used to select 400 participants from the selected study centres. Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS) by Heinssen, Glass and Knight (1987) was adopted as the instrument for data collection. The instrument has a test re-test reliability of .79. When subjected to revalidation, the instrument demonstrated high internal consistency with Cronbach alpha of 0.86 and a two-week test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.89. The student t-test was statistical tool utilised to analyse data collected. Findings from the study revealed no significant difference in computer anxiety of participants on the basis of age and gender. However, a significant difference exists between fresh distance learners from science and humanities. Based on the findings, it was recommended that ODL institutions should put up intervention strategies that could be used to combat computer anxiety among distance learning freshmen. Newly admitted students should be screened for computer anxiety/attitude to determine their status. Provision should be made for the computer anxious ones within weeks of resumption to undergo intervention programme that will enhance their computer skills and reduce phobia. Educational and counselling psychologists and service provider should take cognisance of discipline of study in computer appreciation training for open distance learning students.Keywords: Assessment, Computer anxiety, Distance learning, Freshmen.
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An Assessment of Computer Anxiety among Distance Learning Freshmen in South Western Nigeria | KIU Journal of Social Sciences
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