The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine if individual differences in the learner characteristics of field dependence, state and trait anxiety, age, sex, and prior computer experience were related to performance in operating a computer system; (2) to determine if differences in performance would occur as a result of two different instructional delivery methods, manual-based training (MBT) and instructor-based training (IBT); and (3) to determine if differences in performance between instructional delivery methods could be partially explained by differences in the learner characteristics examined. An experimental research design was used involving two groups of subjects. The control group was trained to operate a computer software system using MBT, the experimental group was trained to operate the same system using IBT. Subjects were administered two standardized instruments, the Group-Embedded Figures Test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A demographic questionnaire was used to identify age, sex, and prior computer experience. Participants in the study were 72 undergraduate students enrolled in one or more courses in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at Oregon State University in April of 1987. Chi-square, t-tests, analysis of variance, regression analysis, and Pearson product-moment correlations were used to test the hypotheses of this study. The following findings were considered significant at the .05 level of confidence: 1. There was a negative correlation between execution time in performing tasks on the computer and level of field dependence. Subjects who were more field independent (higher GEFT score) took less time to perform a series of tasks following training. 2. There was a difference in training time between MBT and IBT. Subjects trained using IBT took significantly longer to train than did subjects using MBT. 3. There was a difference in execution time between MBT and IBT. Subjects trained using MBT took significantly longer to complete the representative tasks than did subjects using IBT. 4. There was a negative correlation between field dependence and execution time for MBT, but not for IBT. Based on the results of this study there appears to be evidence that individual differences and training delivery methods effect performance in operating a computer software system. Further research is recommended to better define the relationship of these variables to performance. / Graduation date: 1988

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Science and Mathematics Education, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 271-286).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-172). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-112). Also available in an electronic version.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-63).