Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
To perform the analysis, the self-assessed and actual skill ratings were coded between
1 and 5. Five was assigned to the ratings of “All of the time” and “Expert,” and 1 was assigned
to “Not at all” and “Beginner.” The actual skill code was then subtracted from the self-
assessment code to determine an “Assessment Index,” i.e., the discrepancy of the self-
assessment of one's skills relative to the actual assessment of their skills. The Assessment
Index range is from -4 to +4. A negative number indicates that the self-assessment rating was
lower than the actual skill demonstrated. A positive number indicates that the self-assess-
ment rating was higher than the actual skill demonstrated. An Assessment Index of zero
indicates that the student accurately self-assessed their actual skill level. The further the
Assessment Index value is from zero (in either a negative or a positive direction), the larger
the discrepancy between a student's self-assessment and the actual assessment of their skill.
Tables 13 through 17 below were used to ascertain the percentages of students whose
self-assessments were at least two skill categories, higher or lower, from the actual assess-
ments of their computer skills. These students may be the most likely in need of additional
motivation or guidance, given the large discrepancy in their perceptions version actual
scores. The results of comparing the self-assessment scores to the actual skills scores are
shown in Tables 13 through 17.
The results of the Assessment Index analysis of Computer Concepts showed that 19.3%
of the students rated themselves at least two categories higher than their actual skill. And,
34.6% of the students accurately assessed their skill, as shown by the Assessment Index of
0.
For Excel, 32.9% of the students rated themselves at least two categories higher than
their actual skill. Excel was the application that had the second highest number of students
with an inflated self-perception; 27% of the students accurately assessed their skill level.
Table 13. Self-assessment versus actual skills - Concepts
Concepts
Self-assessment versus Actual Skill
Assessment
Index
Score
Count
%
1
0.2%
Average
0.8
4
Standard
Deviation
0.8
3
13
2.6%
Minimum
-1.0
2
81
16.5%
217
44.1%
Maximum
4.0
1
0
170
34.6%
-1
10
2.0%
0
0.0%
-2
0
0.0%
-3
0
0.0%
-4
Count
100.0%
492
