University Students' Self-Efficacy and Their Attitudes Toward the Internet: The Role of Students' Perceptions of the Internet

Autor/inn/en	Peng, Hsinyi; Tsai, Chin-Chung; Wu, Ying-Tien
Titel	University Students' Self-Efficacy and Their Attitudes Toward the Internet: The Role of Students' Perceptions of the Internet
Quelle	In: Educational Studies, 32 (2006) 1, S.73-86 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0305-5698
Schlagwörter	Internet; Gender Differences; Student Attitudes; College Students; Self Efficacy; Computer Attitudes; Computer Uses in Education; Foreign Countries; Taiwan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Geschlechterkonflikt; Schülerverhalten; Collegestudent; Self-efficacy; Selbstwirksamkeit; Computernutzung; Ausland
Abstract	The attitudes and the self-efficacy that characterize learners relative to the Internet have been identified as important factors that affect learners' motivation, interests and performance in Internet-based learning environments. Meanwhile, learners' perceptions of the Internet may shape learners' attitudes and online behaviours. This study investigates university students' attitudes and self-efficacy towards the Internet, and explores the role that university students' perceptions of the Internet may play in their Internet attitudes and self-efficacy. The results indicate that university students demonstrate positive attitudes and adequate Internet self-efficacy and that these students are more inclined to view the Internet as a functional tool--a functional technology. Gender differences exist in university students' attitudes towards, and perceptions of, the Internet; that is, male students demonstrate Internet attitudes that are more positive than those of their female peers. Furthermore, students who perceive the Internet as a leisure tool (e.g. as a tour or a toy) show more positive attitudes and communicative self-efficacy than students who use the Internet as a functional technology. Educators and researchers need to be aware of these differences and to take them into consideration in their instruction. Lastly, this study serves as a starting-point for research that more broadly explores learners' perceptions of the Internet. (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10