scholarly journals Scale of Attitudes Towards ICT (SATICT): Factor Structure and Factorial Invariance in Distance University Students

Author(s):  
Xavier Giovanni Ordóñez ◽  
Sonia Janeth Romero

Attitudes Towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are preconceived beliefs about influence of the ICT tools in the process of learning. Studies carried out in this area shows that attitudes may influence cognitive and learning processes and also motivation of students. Despite its importance, very few instruments have been proposed to measure student attitudes, and none analyzes the factor structure or the factorial invariance of the scores, for that reason, the aim of the present study is to analyze the factor structure of SATICT, a new instrument proposed to measure the attitudes towards ICT on distance university students. A second aim is to test the factorial invariance across gender and educational level in a sample of 1080 university students of Madrid Open University using multi-group CFA. The results provide high support of the proposed factor structure with significant loadings and adequate model fit, however, the results also showed that factor structure couldn't be considered invariant across groups.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
José-Antonio García-Martínez ◽  
Eduardo-José Fuentes-Abeledo ◽  
Eduardo-Rafael Rodríguez-Machado

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are being used more and more as part of teaching processes in both formal and informal settings. In this regard, it is important to understand university students’ attitudes towards using ICT as they will shortly form part of the productive sector of society. The aim of this study was to analyze student attitudes during their final years pursuing various degrees at a university in Costa Rica. We used a non-experimental transactional design and probabilistic sampling that involved 1187 students. We used a questionnaire containing a Likert-type scales to measure attitudes, which was structured according to affective, cognitive, and behavioral components. The results showed positive attitudes in general, with higher scores in the cognitive and behavioral components, and moderate scores in the affective component. In addition, we found differences in attitudes according to sex, prior training in technology, and academic performance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
Yueyang Chen ◽  
Brent Roberts ◽  
Fritz Drasgow

Negatively worded items (NWIs) have been found to distort the hypothesized one-factor structure of many unidimensional scales and an additional negative wording factor is needed to achieve adequate model fit. However, little is known about impact, dimensionality, and correlates of the negative wording factor for multidimensional scales. Using responses to the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2) administered to nationally representative samples of Germany, Spain, France, Japan, Poland, America, and England, the present study reported on a comprehensive cross-cultural examination of the impact, dimensionality, and external correlates of negative wording factors. We further investigated whether modeling a negative wording factor affects the factor structure and criterion-related validity. It was found that NWIs blurred the factor structure of the BFI-2 in non-English-speaking countries such that factors like agreeableness was not recovered, thus rejecting configural invariance. The results also strongly supported the idea that there was a general negative wording factor across subscales of the BFI-2 and this factor was consistently related to age, gender, educational attainment and life satisfaction across countries. Moreover, modeling a negative wording factor improved the factor structure of the BFI-2 and scalar invariance was achieved. Implications of these findings were discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-431
Author(s):  
Aurelie M. C. Lange ◽  
Marc J. M. H. Delsing ◽  
Ron H. J. Scholte ◽  
Rachel E. A. van der Rijken

Abstract. The Therapist Adherence Measure (TAM-R) is a central assessment within the quality-assurance system of Multisystemic Therapy (MST). Studies into the validity and reliability of the TAM in the US have found varying numbers of latent factors. The current study aimed to reexamine its factor structure using two independent samples of families participating in MST in the Netherlands. The factor structure was explored using an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in Sample 1 ( N = 580). This resulted in a two-factor solution. The factors were labeled “therapist adherence” and “client–therapist alliance.” Four cross-loading items were dropped. Reliability of the resulting factors was good. This two-factor model showed good model fit in a subsequent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in Sample 2 ( N = 723). The current finding of an alliance component corroborates previous studies and fits with the focus of the MST treatment model on creating engagement.


Author(s):  
S. A. Piyavsky ◽  
S. R. Kiryukov ◽  
A. S. Kuznetsov ◽  
G. A. Kulakov

The article presents a structural description of the functioning of the regional information and communication system “Student and Labor” (SAL). This system is aimed at identifying and developing creatively gifted youth in the field of science, techniques and technology and is focused on the gradual involvement of university students in real work and interaction with leading enterprises in the region. The first cycle of the SAL system functioning is described, which has a complete character and has already led to a concrete result. The bank of information about the leading enterprises of the region that took part at the initial stage of the functioning of the SAL system were formed as well as the bank of 150 themes of scientific research for student projects, which were proposed by the enterprises themselves. All projects are focused on the practical significance of research for the enterprises themselves, as well as for students, their supervisors from universities and scientific consultants from enterprises that have embarked on joint research activities, which at the first stages are mostly of informational and educational nature. The Union of Employers of the Samara Region and the Council of Rectors of Universities in the Samara region are already taking the necessary measures to implement the described cycle of the functioning of the system SAL in the current academic year.


Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessing Mbatha

This study investigated the usage and types of information and communications technologies (ICTs) accessible to community members in four selected Thusong Service Centres (TSCs or telecentres) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The telecentres that participated in the study were: Nhlazuka, Mbazwane, Dududu and Malangeni. The study was informed by Rogers’ (1995) Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) theory. Through a survey, four TSCs were purposively selected. A questionnaire was used to collect data from community members in the four telecentres involved. The data collected was tabulated under the various headings and presented using tables, frequencies, percentiles and generalisations with the help of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that a variety of ICT tools have been adopted in the TSCs to provide the local community with the much-needed access to information and improved communication. The government should ensure that adequate varieties and levels of ICT competence are offered to all the citizens. In conclusion, there is a need for sufficient and coherent government policies regulating the training of the local community to use these ICTs effectively.


Author(s):  
Burak Pak

This paper aims at discussing the potentials of bottom-up design practices in relation to the latest developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by making an in-depth review of inaugural cases. The first part of the study involves a literature study and the elaboration of basic strategies from the case study. The second part reframes the existing ICT tools and strategies and elaborates on their potentials to support the modes of participation performed in these cases. As a result, by distilling the created knowledge, the study reveals the potentials of novel modes of ICT-enabled design participation which exploit a set of collective action tools to support sustainable ways of self-organization and bottom-up design. The final part explains the relevance of these with solid examples and presents a hypothetical case for future implementation. The paper concludes with a brief reflection on the implications of the findings for the future of architectural design education.


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