Attitudes toward Computers: Validation of a Computer Attitudes Scale

Abstract

A preliminary version of a scale to measure attitudes toward computers, the Bath County Computer Attitudes Scale (BCCAS), was developed and piloted on 398 students in grades 4 through 12 who were attending three rural schools in western Virginia. This instrument consisted of thirty-eight Likert items. The scale was judged to be unidimensional and internally consistent. With the aid of an item analysis, the number of items was reduced to twenty-six. The revised BCCAS was administered to 551 students whose demographic make-up was similar to those who participated in the pilot study. The BCCAS scores were found to be predictably related to computer experience and usage, educational and career plans, choice of favorite school subject, and attitudes toward school subjects. In general, the data supported the validity of the BCCAS as a measure of computer attitudes.