Within the context of mechanical engineering education in Ghanaian technical universities, this study examined the relationship between computer technology application (CTA) and students' attitudes towards technology (ATT). CTA: β = 0.112; SE = 0.129; t = 0.867; p = 0.386; f2 = 0.007. This indicates that the deployment of computer technology in these institutions has little effect on the attitudes of students towards technology. Therefore, the hypothesis that the application of computer technology has a significant effect on the ATT of students is rejected.
Previous research on the effect of technology application on student attitudes has yielded contradictory findings. Some studies have found a positive relationship between technology application and students' attitudes towards
technology (e.g.,(Ainley et al., 2016; Sahin & Yilmaz, 2020) whereas others, including the present study, have found non-significant relationships (e.g., X. Chen et al., 2022). This study's non-significant relationship between CTA and ATT can be discussed in light of Davids theory of technology assimilation. It is conceivable that the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of technology applications at Ghanaian technical universities do not have a significant impact on students' attitudes towards technology.
The research has several limitations that must be acknowledged. First, the sample size and scope of the study are restricted to mechanical engineering students at Ghanaian technical institutions, which may limit the applicability of the findings to other disciplines or nations. Second, the research relies on student self-reported data, which may be susceptible to social desirability bias. To mitigate this issue, future research could integrate objective measures of computer technology application and student attitudes.
Despite these limitations, the study provides significant insights into the relationship between computer technology application and student attitudes towards technology in Ghanaian technical universities. The findings suggest that, in addition to increasing the use of computer technology, a more comprehensive strategy may be required to enhance students' attitudes towards technology in these institutions. This strategy could involve enhancing digital infrastructure and delivering more targeted training programmes to meet the specific requirements of mechanical engineering students.
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