Writing and computer apprehension among mass communications majors

Abstract

Mass communications majors have chosen academic careers and professional fields, such as advertising, journalism, and public relations, which require students to produce numerous written products. Besides effective writing skills, mass communications students must learn specific computer skills to assist them in relaying messages to their intended audiences.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether writing and computer apprehension exist among mass communications writing students majoring in advertising, journalism, and public relations, and whether taking certain mass communications writing courses affected students' apprehension levels.

The subjects in this study included a convenience sample of advertising, journalism, and public relations students enrolled in the first- and second-year mass communications writing courses in the School of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University during the fall 2002 semester. A pre- and posttest questionnaire were used to collect data regarding students' levels of writing and computer apprehension.

The data suggested the following: (1) first-year students' overall writing anxiety statistically significantly decreased from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester, (2) second-year students' overall writing anxiety statistically significantly decreased from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester, (3) first-year students' computer anxiety slightly increased from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester, (4) second-year students' computer anxiety slightly decreased from the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester, (5) first- and second-year students experienced basically the same levels of writing and computer apprehension during the semester, (6) a significant difference existed between first-year journalism and public relations students' pretest writing apprehension levels, (7) first-year advertising, journalism, and public relations students experienced basically the same levels of posttest writing and pre- and posttest computer apprehension levels during the semester, (8) second-year advertising, journalism, and public relations students experienced basically the same levels of writing and computer apprehension during the semester, (9) first-year male and female students experienced basically the same levels of writing and computer apprehension during the semester, and (10) second-year male and female students experienced basically the same levels of writing and computer apprehension during the semester.