Computer anxiety and perception of task complexity in learning programming-related skills

The result of the study indicates that computer confidence had significant effects on user perception of task complexity while the effects of computer liking were minimal. At various task levels, increasing computer experience may help reduce computer anxiety. The individuals at a lower task level had less adequate estimation of task complexity than those at higher task levels, and thus were more likely to be subject to occurrence of computer anxiety. The study recommends that in teaching and learning computer programming and related skills, enhancing the knowledge and understanding of task complexity is necessary. It can help computer learners and users, especially at lower skill levels, in dealing with computer anxiety.