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ERIC Number: ED421106
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1998-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
An International Comparison of Computer Perceptions, Attitudes and Access.
Chisholm, Ines Marquez; Irwin, Leslie; Carey, Jane M.
This study examined cross-cultural technology training and education. A four-part questionnaire addressed computer training preferences, computer attitudes and perceptions, and computer access among Chinese, Ghanaian, and American students in college business and education classes. The differences in computer ownership among students reflected economic realities. The majority of the American students have computers at home; the few Chinese and Ghanaian students who own a computer are likely to be children of university professors and to live at home. The willingness of Chinese and Ghanaian students to share a computer has economic and cultural roots; 42.3% of the Chinese and 31.3% of the Ghanian students preferred to share the computer while working in the university labs. Only 7.1% of the American students preferred to share a computer. The use of DOS versus Windows--the majority of the Chinese students used DOS without Windows--indicates that the power and relative state-of-the-art of Chinese computers is significantly lower than in the United States. In terms of attitudinal differences, the Chinese and Ghanaians feel as positive towards computers as American students, though they have less access to computers. Findings suggest that access and competency are closely linked, and that while the attitudes of Chinese and Ghanaian students are positive towards computers, they have little experience and competence in using them. (AEF)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China; Ghana; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A