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Aroldi, E, (2001-2002):
Self-efficacy and the Use of the Computer: a Contribution to the Making of a Scale
Graduation Thesis , University of Padua

In June 2002, at the Faculty of Psychology of Padua University, graduate student Eleonora Aroldi, discussed her work under the supervision of Prof. A. Maria Manganelli.
First of all, the thesis analyses sex differences in their relation with information technology and aims at understanding if such differences can be examined according to the principle of self-efficacy of the two sexes in this field.
The general assumption is that males and females have different opinions as to their skills of interacting successfully and effectively with the computer and with the Internet, which even affects their working careers and private lives.
The theoretical framework of the investigation is Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, by which the term self-efficacy refers to "the belief in one's skills to carry out a task and successfully adopt a suitable behaviour".
The survey was based on a questionnaire filled in by 271 students of psychology at Padua University (190 females and 81 males). A few questions concerned the use of the computer and the Internet by the students. Although 90% of the students can have at least one computer at home, there are differences between the two sexes:

a) 43..3% of males declare they personally own a computer, vs. 24% of females.
b) males learned to use the computer at an earlier age (14.61 years) than females (15.87 years)
c) self-teaching is higher among males (51.3 %)than among females (31.9%)
d) daily usage of the computer and the Internet is common among males.

As to self-efficacy in informatics and related technology, the tool that was envisaged to measure it has revealed that males show a higher degree of self-efficacy not only at a basic level but also at an advanced one.
Girls appear to be more anxious when working with the computer and to enjoy it less than males.
In conclusion, the investigation stresses a few differences between males and female in this field.
Males are more keen on self-teaching, and seem to enjoy it more t, whereas females are less secure and anxious about their cognitive skills: they prefer to be systematically trained, relying on a tutor (e.g. a course in computer science), having a specific aim and learning how to use a particular programme or software.