Abstract
The purpose of this study in end user computing was to investigate the relationship between individual differences and perceived advanced end user computer skill. This relationship was thought to be related to demographic, situational, and learning style factors. The Computer Self-Efficacy Scale (Murphy, Coover, and Owen 1989) and the Learning-Style Inventory (Kolb 1985) were distributed with a computer use questionnaire to 165 end users in six organizations. Differences and relationships were determined with ANOVA, t-test of difference and correlation methods. The findings indicated that twelve of eighteen demographic and situational variables fell into a range of low to strong relationships with the strongest relationship in length of computer use. Moderate relationships were found with computer courses, degree, hours of computer use, and math courses. Based on the analysis of data collected and related literature, the following recommendations were offered to managers and trainers of end users, and to end users as individuals: (1) age and gender had no impact on advanced skill, suggesting that traditional stumbling blocks for gaining computing skill have disappeared, (2) end users, regardless of education, math courses completed, and organizational level may achieve an advanced level, and (3) hands-on computer experience was the strongest influence found in this study which suggested that advanced skills may be obtained by increasing end user access and reducing control.