MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD COMPUTER AND INTERNET USAGE AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate and measure postgraduate students’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer use. Specifically, the present study sought answers to the following questions: What is the overall profile of postgraduate students’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer use? Do postgraduate students’ attitudes toward Internet and computer use differ in terms of gender? Do postgraduate students’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer use in instruction differ in terms of field of study? Do postgraduate students’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer use differ in terms of ethnicity? Do postgraduate students’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer use differ in terms of age? A total of 289 postgraduate students participated in this study. Attitudes scales to assess postgraduate student’s attitudes toward the use of Internet and computer were used. Results reveal that: (1) participants have a high level perception of the usefulness and their control of the computer and Internet, (2) no significant differences were found between participants’ attitudes toward the Internet and computer related with gender, field of study, and ethnicity, and (3) postgraduate student’s attitudes toward computer and Internet usage is age related.