Assessing the Use of Microcomputers by Administrators in Higher Education in Oklahoma

• Main Author: Deel, Dickie Leon
• Other Authors: Kingery, Dwane
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: North Texas State University 1987
• Subjects: microcomputers; public universities; administrative computer usage; Universities and colleges > Oklahoma > Administration > Data processing.; College administrators > Oklahoma.; Microcomputers.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332427/

This study was conducted to examine the use of microcomputers and other computers by top administrators in the twenty—seven public colleges and universities in Oklahoma; to assess the impact that training and other factors have on the extent to which microcomputers are being used; and to identify trends in administrative computer usage. The survey technique was utilized in collecting the data for this study. The survey instrument was developed for use in this study from a review of the literature, an evaluation by a panel of judges, and a pilot study. The survey instrument was sent to the administrators for business, academic, and student affairs via the president of each university in the 1986 spring and summer semesters. Seventy-four of the eighty-one or 91.4 percent of the administrators responded. Following is a summary of the major findings of this study. 1. Fourteen of the seventy-four or 18.9 percent of the respondents personally use a microcomputer and 51.3 percent of the respondents have someone use a microcomputer on their behalf. 2. The most prevalent use of microcomputers is word processing; the most prevalent uses of mainframes are word processing and database management; and the majority of the respondents do not use a computer for spreadsheets, graphics, database management, telecommunications, and time management functions. Computer functions rated highly important are word processing, spreadsheets, and database management. 3. Administrators feel they need more training in the use of computers. 4. Conditions affecting the use of microcomputers are an established process for evaluating software, funding for maintenance, and practice time. 5. Age is negatively correlated to the personal use of microcomputers. 6. Administrators believe that in the near future, the use of microcomputers will increase, the use of mainframes will remain about the same, and the number of jobs done without computers will decrease.