A COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND WORLD WIDE WEB METHODOLOGIES, COMPUTER ANXIETY, AND HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS IN THE IN-SERVICE TRAINING OF MISSISSIPPI 4-H EXTENSION AGENTS

Abstract

This research compared traditional and World Wide Web based Extension agent in-service training in Mississippi with respect to higher-order thinking skills and computer anxiety. While the experimental sample (n = 26) was small, the study examined agents’ ability to perform on two subject-matter post-tests at differing levels of Bloom’s taxonomy of the cognitive domain and examined the role that computer anxiety played in the agents’ performance. A hierarchical multiple linear regression was used in order to arrive at R2 values to use in performing F tests at the .10 level of significance. At the knowledge level of Bloom’s taxonomy, the researchers found no statistically significant difference in the post-test based on the training methodology (traditional or Web based), the agents’ level of computer anxiety, or the interaction of these two variables. However, at the application level of Bloom’s taxonomy, the interaction between type of training methodology (traditional or Web based) and computer anxiety was statistically significant at the .10 level of significance. This treatment and computer anxiety interaction indicated that agents in the traditional group scored statistically significantly higher than agents in the Web-based group on the application level post-test.