Internet skills performance tests: are people ready for eHealth?

Background:\ud Despite the amount of online health information, there are several barriers that limit the Internet’s adoption as a source of health information. One of these barriers is highlighted in conceptualizations of the digital divide which include the differential possession of Internet skills, or “eHealth literacy”. Most measures of Internet skills among populations at large use self-assessments. The research discussed here applies a multifaceted definition of Internet skills and uses actual performance tests.\ud \ud Objective:\ud The purpose of this study was to assess how ready a sample of the general population is for eHealth. More specifically, four types of Internet skills were measured in a performance test in which subjects had to complete health-related assignments on the Internet.\ud \ud Methods:\ud From November 1, 2009, through February 28, 2010, 88 subjects participated in the study. Subjects were randomly selected from a telephone directory. A selective quota sample was used divided over equal subsamples of gender, age, and education. Each subject had to accomplish assignments on the Internet. The Internet skills accounted for were categorized as operational (basic skills to use the Internet), formal (navigation and orientation), information (finding information), and strategic (using the information for personal benefits). The tests took approximately 1.5 hours and were conducted in a University office, making the setting equally new for all. Successful completion and time spent on the assignments—the two main outcomes—were directly measured by the test leader.\ud \ud Results:\ud The subjects successfully completed an average of 73% (5.8/8) of the operational Internet skill tasks and an average of 73% (2.9/4) of the formal Internet skill tasks. Of the information Internet skills tasks, an average of 50% (1.5/3) was completed successfully and, of the strategic Internet skills tasks, 35% (0.7/2). Only 28% (25/88) of the subjects were able to successfully complete all operational skills tasks, 39% (34/88) all formal skills tasks, 13% (11/88) all information skills tasks, and 20% (18/88) both the strategic skill tasks. The time spent on the assignments varied substantially. Age and education were the most important contributors to the operational and formal Internet skills. Regarding the formal Internet skills, years of Internet experience also had some influence. Educational level of attainment was the most important contributor to the information and strategic Internet skills.\ud \ud Conclusions:\ud Although the amount of online health-related information and services is consistently growing, it appears that the general population lacks the skills to keep up. Most problematic appear to be the lack of information and strategic Internet skills, which, in the context of health, are very important. The lack of these skills is also problematic for members of younger generations, who are often considered skilled Internet users. This primarily seems to account for the operational and formal Internet skills. The results of the study strongly call for policies to increase the level of Internet skills

Normative Data for Email Writing by Native Speakers of British English

This dataset includes emails from forty two control participants ranging from 16 to 88 years of age (mean = 46) and 9 to 24 years of education (mean = 13). Three emails were produced by each participant (between 2011 and 2014), each within a time limit of three minutes. It is expected that this normative data will be useful for clinicians and researchers working with adults with acquired language disorders in assessing email writing

Latent segmentation of older adults in the use of social networks and e-banking services

Introduction. This study analyses heterogeneity in the online behaviour of elderly people. Previous research has centred on the socio-demographic segmentation of the elderly regarding their Internet use. Method. The novelty that this study adds is in determining this segmentation through variables that have been especially chosen for studies of the elderly and which are related to their utilitarian use of e-banking, compared to the more hedonic nature of using online social networks. Analysis. The sample was collected using 474 students over 55 years old enrolled in a class of experience in a University in the South of Europe (Spain). We use a latent class cluster model which is appropriate in situations of a posterior segmentation. Results. In dealing with such behaviour in situations of the elderly using these technologies, we have detected the presence of five groups or segments with highly differentiated use-related profiles concerning the variables analysed: venturesomeness, technology anxiety and selfconfidence in information and communication technologies use. Conclusion. We discover the existence of heterogeneity in the behaviour of the elderly regarding services available in Internet. The results support the idea proposed. The stereotype of the elderly cut off from technology is mistaken, as is shown by the different segments found

Development and validation of the Internet Skills Scale (ISS)

Although a number of instruments have been used to measure Internet skills in nationally representative surveys, there are several challenges with the measures available: incompleteness and over-simplification, conceptual ambiguity, and the use of self-reports. Here, we aim to overcome these challenges by developing a set of reliable measures for use in research, practice, and policy evaluations based on a strong conceptual framework. To achieve this goal, we carried out a literature review of skills-related studies to develop the initial Internet skills framework and associated instrument. After the development of this instrument, we used a three-fold approach to test the validity and reliability of the latent skill constructs and the corresponding items. The first step consisted of cognitive interviews held in both the UK and the Netherlands. Based on the cognitive interview results, we made several amendments to the proposed skill items to improve clarity. The second step consisted of a pilot survey of digital skills, both in the UK and in the Netherlands. During the final step, we examined the consistency of the five Internet skill scales and their characteristics when measured in a representative sample survey of Dutch Internet users. The result is a theoretical, empirically and cross-nationally consistent instrument consisting of five types of Internet skills: operational, navigation information, social, creative, and mobile

A practical tool to measure digital competences: Teamschamp

[EN] Digital competence is currently a widely-used term that refers to skills, abilities and capabilities that 21st century workers should demonstrate in order to overcome current challenges. Although it has been a researched concept in numerous studies, the literature and industry lack from practical studies and applications. The measurement of digital competences is a key dare that organisations must address with the aim of evaluating the digital behaviour and skills of their workforce. With this information, they will be able to design training programs for the employees to generate personal and professional development on them. Therefore, this study encompasses a theoretical review of several definitions and studies and presents a practical and real tool to evaluate digital competences.Canina, L.; Orero-Blat, M. (2021). A practical tool to measure digital competences: Teamschamp. International Journal of Services Operations and Informatics (Online). 11(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSOI.2021.11410711211

Factors affecting to digital skills and adaptability of students in the context of digital transformation at the Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology and Education

The article focuses on analyzing the factors affecting students' digital skills and adaptability in the context of digital transformation. The study identified influencing factors: Environment, Behavior, Individuals, Teachers, Time of use, and access. However, the results of an online survey of 1.282 students of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) with Cronbach's Alpha test method, EFA analysis, correlations, and regression analysis, showed that there are 3/5 factors identified in the hypothesis that affect digital skills and adaptability of HCMUTE students in the context of digital transformation, specifically: behavior (Beta = 0.177, Sig. = 0.000); individuals (Beta = 0.181, Sig. = 0.027); teacher (Beta = 0.547, Sig. = 0.000). Besides, the environment does not affect digital skills and adaptability (KNSKNTU) due to Beta = 0.017 and Sig.=0.384>0.05. Sig does not involve usage and access time factors. >0.05 in the table Correlations not be further analyzed in the regression model. The research results are expected to help provide a more objective view of the reality of digital adoption and student adaptability in the digital transformation context at HCMUTE

Factors affecting to digital skills and adaptability of students in the context of digital transformation at the Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology and Education

The article focuses on analyzing the factors affecting students' digital skills and adaptability in the context of digital transformation. The study identified influencing factors: Environment, Behavior, Individuals, Teachers, Time of use, and access. However, the results of an online survey of 1.282 students of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) with Cronbach's Alpha test method, EFA analysis, correlations, and regression analysis, showed that there are 3/5 factors identified in the hypothesis that affect digital skills and adaptability of HCMUTE students in the context of digital transformation, specifically: behavior (Beta = 0.177, Sig. = 0.000); individuals (Beta = 0.181, Sig. = 0.027); teacher (Beta = 0.547, Sig. = 0.000). Besides, the environment does not affect digital skills and adaptability (KNSKNTU) due to Beta = 0.017 and Sig.=0.384>0.05. Sig does not involve usage and access time factors. >0.05 in the table Correlations not be further analyzed in the regression model. The research results are expected to help provide a more objective view of the reality of digital adoption and student adaptability in the digital transformation context at HCMUTE

Internet skills, sources of support and benefiting from internet use

This study added communication Internet skills to an existing skill framework of operational, formal, information, and strategic skills. The study investigated how people deal with inadequate skill levels by identifying support sources. Furthermore, we investigated which of the Internet skills actually matter for attaining beneficial Internet outcomes and whether support sources employed moderate these effects. Results of a large-scale survey revealed three support patterns: independents, social support seekers, and formal help seekers. The newly added communication skills prove to be an important addition because they have an independent effect on beneficial Internet use. The group of independent Internet users benefited more from Internet use than formal help seekers and much more than social support seekers. Internet communication skills hold the potential for achieving a high degree of independence in using the Internet by compensating for information skills so as to attain beneficial Internet outcomes