Assessing Basic Computer Applications’ Skills of College-Level Students in Saudi Arabia
This paper is a report on the findings of a study
conducted at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Saudi
Arabia. The paper applied both qualitative and quantitative
approaches to assess the levels of basic computer applications’ skills
among students enrolled in the preparatory programs of the
institution. Qualitative data have been collected from semi-structured
interviews with the instructors who have previously been assigned to
teach Introduction to information technology courses. Quantitative
data were collected by executing a self-report questionnaire and a
written statistical test. Three hundred eighty enrolled students
responded to the questionnaire and one hundred forty two
accomplished the statistical test. The results indicate the lack of
necessary skills to deal with computer applications among most of
the students who are enrolled in the IPA’s preparatory programs.
[1] C. S. Kim and N. K. Keith, Computer literacy topics: A comparison of
views within a business school. Journal of Information Systems
Education, Summer, 6 (2), 1994, pp. 55-57.
[2] J. Keengwe, Faculty integration of technology into instruction and
students’ perceptions of computer technology to improve student
learning. Journal of Information Technology Education, 6, 2007, pp.
169- 180.
[3] IPA, Institute of Public Administration (2014). Retrieved Dec 15, 2014,
from www.ipa.edu.sa.
[4] L. Lahore, Community college students and differences between
computer skills self-assessment and objective computer-based skills
assessment. Seattle University, 2008.
[5] R. W. Haigh, Planning for computer literacy. The Journal of Higher
Education, 56 (2), 1985, pp. 161-171.
[6] J. M. McCade, Technology education and computer literacy. The
Technology Teacher, 2001.
[7] E. Taylor, R., Goede, and T. Steyn, Reshaping computer literacy
teaching in higher education. Interactive Technology and Smart
Education, 8 (1), Steyn , pp. 28-38.
[8] R. N. Cassel and S. L. Cassel, Cassel computer literacy test (CMLRTC).
Journal of Instructional Psychology, 11, 1984, pp. 3-9.
[9] J. Barrera, Computer literacy in undergraduate business education: The
case for the adult fast track programs. American Journal of Business
Education, 6 (4), 2013, pp. 471-481.
[10] T. Banta and M. Howard, Assessing information literacy and
technological competence. Assessment Update, 16(5), 2004, pp. 3-14.
[11] L. O'Connor, The diffusion of information literacy in academic business
literature. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 13(2), 2007,
pp. 105-125.
[12] T. S. Kiran, T. S. Shylasree, and N. S. Jayawickrama, Computer skills
among trainee doctors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 24(1),
2004, pp. 81-82.
[13] H. J. Svec, Perceptions and measured assessment of college students'
computer software proficiencies. University of South Dakota. 2000.
[14] C. A. Murphy, D. Coover and S. V. Owen, Development of validation of
the computer self-efficacy scale. Educational and Psychological
Measurement, 49, 1989, pp. 893-899.
[15] R. H. Kay, The relation between locus of control and computer literacy.
Journal of Research on Computing in Education, Summer, 1990, pp.
464-474.
[16] G. M. Turner, N. W. Sweany, and J. Husman, Development of the
computer interface literacy measure, journal of Educational Computing
Research, 22, 2000, p. 37-54.
[17] J. E. Davies, Assessing and predicting information and communication
technology literacy in education undergraduates. University of Alberta,
Edmonton, 2002.
[18] A. Meckelborg, Assessing computer literacy in adult ESL learners.
University of Alberta. 2003.
[19] N. Falchikov and D. Boud, Student self-assessment in higher education:
a metaanalysis. Review of Educational Research, 59(4), 1989, pp. 395-
430.
[20] P. M. Larres, J. A. Ballantine, and M. Whittington. Evaluating the
validity of self-assessment: measuring computer literacy among entrylevel
undergraduates within accounting degree programmes at two UK
universities. Accounting Education, 12(2), 2003, pp. 97-112.
[21] J. A. Ballantine, P. L. McCourt, and P. Oyelere, Computer usage and the
validity of self-assessed computer competence among first-year business
students. Computers & Education, 49, 2007, pp. 976-990.
[22] E. J. Kennedy, L. Lawton, and E. L. Plumlee, Blissful ignorance: the
problem of unrecognized incompetence and academic performance.
Journal of Marketing Education, 24(3), 2002, pp. 243-252.
[1] C. S. Kim and N. K. Keith, Computer literacy topics: A comparison of
views within a business school. Journal of Information Systems
Education, Summer, 6 (2), 1994, pp. 55-57.
[2] J. Keengwe, Faculty integration of technology into instruction and
students’ perceptions of computer technology to improve student
learning. Journal of Information Technology Education, 6, 2007, pp.
169- 180.
[3] IPA, Institute of Public Administration (2014). Retrieved Dec 15, 2014,
from www.ipa.edu.sa.
[4] L. Lahore, Community college students and differences between
computer skills self-assessment and objective computer-based skills
assessment. Seattle University, 2008.
[5] R. W. Haigh, Planning for computer literacy. The Journal of Higher
Education, 56 (2), 1985, pp. 161-171.
[6] J. M. McCade, Technology education and computer literacy. The
Technology Teacher, 2001.
[7] E. Taylor, R., Goede, and T. Steyn, Reshaping computer literacy
teaching in higher education. Interactive Technology and Smart
Education, 8 (1), Steyn , pp. 28-38.
[8] R. N. Cassel and S. L. Cassel, Cassel computer literacy test (CMLRTC).
Journal of Instructional Psychology, 11, 1984, pp. 3-9.
[9] J. Barrera, Computer literacy in undergraduate business education: The
case for the adult fast track programs. American Journal of Business
Education, 6 (4), 2013, pp. 471-481.
[10] T. Banta and M. Howard, Assessing information literacy and
technological competence. Assessment Update, 16(5), 2004, pp. 3-14.
[11] L. O'Connor, The diffusion of information literacy in academic business
literature. Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, 13(2), 2007,
pp. 105-125.
[12] T. S. Kiran, T. S. Shylasree, and N. S. Jayawickrama, Computer skills
among trainee doctors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 24(1),
2004, pp. 81-82.
[13] H. J. Svec, Perceptions and measured assessment of college students'
computer software proficiencies. University of South Dakota. 2000.
[14] C. A. Murphy, D. Coover and S. V. Owen, Development of validation of
the computer self-efficacy scale. Educational and Psychological
Measurement, 49, 1989, pp. 893-899.
[15] R. H. Kay, The relation between locus of control and computer literacy.
Journal of Research on Computing in Education, Summer, 1990, pp.
464-474.
[16] G. M. Turner, N. W. Sweany, and J. Husman, Development of the
computer interface literacy measure, journal of Educational Computing
Research, 22, 2000, p. 37-54.
[17] J. E. Davies, Assessing and predicting information and communication
technology literacy in education undergraduates. University of Alberta,
Edmonton, 2002.
[18] A. Meckelborg, Assessing computer literacy in adult ESL learners.
University of Alberta. 2003.
[19] N. Falchikov and D. Boud, Student self-assessment in higher education:
a metaanalysis. Review of Educational Research, 59(4), 1989, pp. 395-
430.
[20] P. M. Larres, J. A. Ballantine, and M. Whittington. Evaluating the
validity of self-assessment: measuring computer literacy among entrylevel
undergraduates within accounting degree programmes at two UK
universities. Accounting Education, 12(2), 2003, pp. 97-112.
[21] J. A. Ballantine, P. L. McCourt, and P. Oyelere, Computer usage and the
validity of self-assessed computer competence among first-year business
students. Computers & Education, 49, 2007, pp. 976-990.
[22] E. J. Kennedy, L. Lawton, and E. L. Plumlee, Blissful ignorance: the
problem of unrecognized incompetence and academic performance.
Journal of Marketing Education, 24(3), 2002, pp. 243-252.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:69609", author = "Mohammed A. Gharawi and Majed M. Khoja", title = "Assessing Basic Computer Applications’ Skills of College-Level Students in Saudi Arabia", abstract = "This paper is a report on the findings of a study
conducted at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Saudi
Arabia. The paper applied both qualitative and quantitative
approaches to assess the levels of basic computer applications’ skills
among students enrolled in the preparatory programs of the
institution. Qualitative data have been collected from semi-structured
interviews with the instructors who have previously been assigned to
teach Introduction to information technology courses. Quantitative
data were collected by executing a self-report questionnaire and a
written statistical test. Three hundred eighty enrolled students
responded to the questionnaire and one hundred forty two
accomplished the statistical test. The results indicate the lack of
necessary skills to deal with computer applications among most of
the students who are enrolled in the IPA’s preparatory programs.
", keywords = "Assessment, Computer Applications, Computer
Literacy, Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia.", volume = "9", number = "4", pages = "1240-6", }
