| The purposes of the study were (1) to determine whether computer attitudes differ among various demographic groups; (2) to investigate the ways in which the systemic variables such as technology training programs, administrative support, and colleague relationships influence the computer attitudes of teachers; and (3) to identify the characteristics of teacher groups and their different levels of computer attitudes.; The computer attitude scale developed by Nickell and Pinto (1986) was administrated to 651 university business instructors in Taiwan. The independent variables included age, gender, computer knowledge/skills, computer experiences, academic background, knowing a programming language, technology training background, administrative support, and collegial relationships. The dependent variables were positive attitudes, intimidation, usefulness of computers, and negative attitudes toward computers. There were 13 hypotheses tested. The statistical methods of one way Multivariate Analysis of Variances (MANOVA), and multiple Linear regression were used.; Computer ownership, length of computer use and computer knowledge/skills, colleague relationships, teaching methods for technology training, and administrative support contributed to the positive attitudes about computers.; Feelings of intimidation about computers were affected by gender, age, computer ownership, length of computer use, academic background, programming language experience and computer knowledge/skills. Colleague relationship and teaching methods for technology training were also related to feelings of intimidation about computers.; Age, computer ownership, length of computer use, academic background and computer knowledge/skills affected the usefulness of computers. Colleague relationship and teaching methods used in technology training also related to the usefulness of the computer.; Different groups of gender, computer ownership, length of computer use, in-service technology training backgrounds and computer knowledge/skills demonstrated different negative attitudes. Colleague relationships and teaching methods for technology training also related to negative computer attitudes.; Areas recommended for further study included: (1) establishing the relationship between computer attitudes and computer usage; (2) developing appropriate methods to reduce feelings of intimidation and negative attitudes; (3) improving teaching methods of technology training programs; (4) finding appropriate ways to integrate technology into teaching; and (5) improving collegial relationships. |
