From brain to pencil to calculator: An exploratory test of the effect of technological evolution on attitudes

When technologies evolve, the means by which we complete tasks change. As a result, our attitudes toward these tasks change. The present study examine d the effect of the level of technology used to solve mathematics problems on mood and attitudes toward mathematics. Seventy-two participants took a m athematics test under one of three conditions: using a calculator; using pa per and pencil; and using no aids. Afterwards, participants completed mood measures and the Mathematics Attitude Inventory. Participants who used pape r and pencil were happier, felt more aroused, had lower math anxiety, great er math self-confidence and greater math enjoyment than did participants in either of the other two groups. This suggests that there is an optimal poi nt in the evolution of a technology, between its inception and full automat ion, during which the subjective experience of the user is most positive.