年齡、工作記憶與電腦態度在電子郵件技能學習之預測效應

The Predictability of Age, Working Memory and Computer Attitude in Learning an Email System

本文從年齡差異的角度探討工作記憶與電腦態度在電腦技能學習上的預測性。共39位年齡從18至80歲的受試者參與一個以電子郵件操作程序為教學範本的實驗，隨後並接受一個測試訓練內容回憶正確性的紙筆填空測驗。開始參加該學習實驗之前，每位受試者接受一份工作記憶量表與一份電腦態度量表的衡鑑。迴歸分析結果顯示工作記憶能力與年齡差異依序是預測電子郵件學習績效最顯著的因子。年齡與工作記憶之間呈現顯著負相關，且高齡者其記憶廣度與文－數序列能力明顯低於年輕受試者。電腦態度對於學習效果並無顯著解釋能力，但高齡者卻比低齡者有較低的電腦焦慮。本文據此結果討論高齡化電腦技能學習與訓練之設計。

The present study aimed at examining the predictability of age, working memory and computer attitude in acquisition of computer skills. Thirty-nine subjects whose age ranged from 18 to 80 years old participated in an experiment in which procedural electronic mail skills were taught. The regression analysis showed that age and working memory capacity were the most influential predictors for the correct recall of the electronic mail procedures. Age was negatively correlated with working memory, with the capacities of digit span and letter-number sequencing of the older adults being significantly lower than those of their younger counterpart. Attitude was not a significant predictor for recall of electronic procedures; however, the difference in computer anxiety between older and younger subjects was apparent, with the elderly subjects showing less anxiety. Implications for the design of computer skill learning/training for the elderly were discussed.