APPLICATION OF SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY TO TRAINING FOR COMPUTER SKILLS

While computer training is widely recognized as an essential contribut or to the productive use of computers in organizations, very little re search has focused on identifying the processes through which training operates, and the relative effectiveness of different methods for suc h training. This research examined the training process, and compared a behavior modeling training program, based on Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura 1977, 1978, 1982, 1986), to a more traditional, lecture-base d program. According to Social Cognitive Theory, watching others perfo rming a behavior, in this case interacting with a computer system, inf luences the observers' perceptions of their own ability to perform the behavior, or self-efficacy, and the expected outcomes that they perce ive, as well as providing strategies for effective performance. The fi ndings provide only partial support for the research model. Self-effic acy exerted a strong influence on performance in both models. In addit ion, behavior modeling was found to be more effective than the traditi onal method for training in Lotus 1-2-3, resulting in higher self-effi cacy and higher performance. For WordPerfect, however, modeling did no t significantly influence performance. This finding was unexpected, an d several possible explanations are explored in the discussion. Of par ticular surprise were the negative relationships found between outcome expectations and performance. Outcome expectations were expected to p ositively influence performance, but the results indicated a strong ne gative effect. Measurement limitations are presented as the most plaus ible explanation for this result, but further research is necessary to provide conclusive explanations.