CHANGE AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF CONTROL-BE LIEFS IN COMPUTER USE IN THE SCHOOL - CONCEPTUAL BASIS AND 1ST RESULTS

With reference to an action-theory founded perspective in psychology r esults of an exploration study are presented, in which short-term effe cts of computer-based training were analysed with reference to control -cognitions and -actions. The evaluative and follow-up data were obtai ned from a total of 65 pupils. Results are: (1) control-orientations p oint toward a high normative stability; (2) externality in locus of co ntrol for computer-interaction decreases in longitudinal comparisons. For the time to use the computer a significant increase is confirmed; (3) in accordance with hypothesis the relevance of situation-oriented control-orientations is rather weak; (4) longitudinal results also sho w that (in the group of computer-experts) the domain-specific control- orientations are good predictors of computer-related actions. Implicat ions of the results for the realization of future studies and helpful pedagogical interventions are discussed.