Validation of Persian Version of Computer Anxiety Rating Scale

With the rapid spread of using technology in education، investigating constructs relating to how students interact with computers and other technological tools is of vital importance. One of these constructs is computer anxiety that causes apprehension، confusion، fear، and finally withdrawal from working with computer. Due to the importance of measuring this construct among users of academic centers، this study investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Persian version of Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS) (Weil & Rosen، 1995) among Iranian high-school students. To attain this goal، the translated version of CARS was distrusted among 789 high-school students who were selected randomly. To calculate validity and reliability of the scale، item analysis (item discrimination coefficient and Loope method)، exploratory factor analysis، confirmatory factor analysis، and internal consistency method were used. The result revealed that 18 items out of 20 items of the scale are statistically and psychometrically suitable for Iranian high-school population. The result of exploratory factor analysis detected 3 factors. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed that there was a good fit with the suggested model and the gathered data. Cronbach’s alpha of the 18-item scale was found to be 0. 90. The findings showed that the translated Persian version was a reliable and valid instrument to measure Iranian high-school students’ computer anxiety.