Workers in careers not related to computers and the internet: concern that they are being left behind in a growing information technology market
Workers in careers not related to computers and the internet: concern that they are being left behind in a growing information technology market
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Issue Date
2000
Authors
Porter, Andrea
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the nature and extent of concern among workers in California that they were being left behind in the growing information technology market. This was a quantitative, descriptive study which used survey techniques, with close ended questions. Most questions utilized a Likert scale. The 41 people surveyed were 25 years of age and older and did not currently work in the computer or Internet related job market, or have an Internet or computer related career. The demographic variables that were analyzed were gender and race. Questionnaires were distributed to people in the following career fields: management, customer service, education, and consulting. Respondents ranged in age from 25 to greater than 50, with the majority of respondents in the age category between 30 and 34. Results showed that the mean level of concern was moderate. An important finding was that 27% reported having experienced frequent thoughts that they needed to learn new computer/Internet skills, and 75% of the respondents reported having these thoughts occasionally. Most respondents felt that their current career would require more Internet and computer skills in the future. Perhaps most revealing of the existing concern, 41% of the respondents said that they would train themselves to keep current with today's technology, and 54% of the respondents said that they would take classes.
Results were discussed in relation to previous studies about attitudes toward technology and the growing computer and Internet fields. Implications for the field of Organizational Psychology were provided.
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Psychology