title: Adult learning styles and attitudes toward computer assisted instruction.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between learning style categories and attitudes toward computer assisted instruction (CAI). Few studies have attempted to compare adult learning style and attitude toward CAI. In a one group pre- and post-test design, two questionnaires were administered to adult students enrolled in a nursing research course, which integrated CAI as an instructional method. The Attitude Toward Computer Assisted Instruction Semantic Differential Tool (Allen, 1986) was completed twice. The Learning Style Inventory (Kolb, 1976), a self-report questionnaire to determine learning style, was completed once. Data analysis indicated a significantly greater negative attitude toward CAI post-test. Subjects in all four learning style categories had statistically significantly greater negative attitudes on the function subscale, with assimilators also having a significantly greater negative attitude on the creativity subscale, as well as in overall attitude. The increasingly negative attitude toward CAI in this study may reflect several factors: an evaluation of the CAI software, and subject expectations of the CAI that were not met.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Oregon Health Sciences University.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brudenell
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003200:Computer User Training; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003405:Creativity; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D015399:Nursing Research; D012985:Software Design; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000592:standards