Effects of electronic mail on staff communication satisfaction and computer anxiety

Research indicates teacher isolation and computer anxiety are significant problems effecting teachers. This study examined the influence of electronic mail on these two problems. The research hypotheses questioned whether electronic mail installation positively effected a staff's level of communication satisfaction and/or lowered their level of computer anxiety.;The study used the Computer Satisfaction Questionnaire to measure eight components of communication satisfaction, and the Computer Anxiety Index to measure computer anxiety levels. The research followed a design developed by the researcher and based upon the Recurrent Institutional Cycle Design.;A discriminant analysis technique was used to determine if a function existed which discriminated between sites at the time of the measurements and at the same site over the course of the research. Where a function was developed, t-tests were used to determine if individual components differed significantly. Computer anxiety between sites and between measurements at each site were compared using a t-test procedure.;No function was found which could discriminate between Site One and Site Two before or after installation of electronic mail at Site Two. A discriminant function was developed which could identify a significant change in communication satisfaction between the first and second measurements at Site Two.;Three sites were used in the study. Site One had electronic mail at the time of both measurements, Site Two implemented electronic mail immediately following the first measurement, and Site Three never used electronic mail. Ten months separated the measurements.;A discriminant function was identified at Site Three between first and second applications of the questionnaire. A discriminant function was also found which identified significant differences between Site One and Site Three, and Site Two and Site Three. This function was composed of significant differences on seven of the eight variables of Communication Satisfaction.;No change was found between sites, or within sites between pre and post measures of computer anxiety. There does not appear to be a relationship between the use of electronic mail and level of computer anxiety.