The effects of computer anxiety, state anxiety, and computer experience on usersʹ performance of computer based tasks

The construct validity of computer anxiety was explored by assessing the extent to which computer anxiety test scores are predictive of usersʹ ability to complete basic computer operations accurately and/or swiftly when the level of experience of the user is considered. Undergraduate studentsʹ levels of computer anxiety, computer avoidance, computer experience, state anxiety, and the latency and accuracy with which they could complete a simple data entry task were measured. The data confirmed previous findings that computer anxiety is associated with elevated levels of both computer avoidance and state anxiety. Most importantly, the data revealed that computer anxiety is associated with slower completion of simple computer tasks and that this performance deficit is independent of both the prior level of computer experience and the level of state anxiety of the user.