What is Technological Self-Efficacy

This research attempts to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a proposed theory of Learned Technological Helplessness (LTH) in female adult learners. The theory posits that females’ technological ability and technological self-efficacy (TSE) are impacted by socialization into traditional gender roles. Analysis of the intercorrelations between the individual’s gendered characteristics (as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory or BSRI) and the participant’s computer self-efficacy (as measured by the General Computer Self-Efficacy score) indicates that several masculine characteristics are statistically significant predictors of TSE. The qualitative results demonstrate that women consider men to be more adept at using technology. This feminist emancipatory study provides useful information to adult educators interested in how females perceive their technological ability and capacity to learn using technology, and provides the groundwork for other researchers interested in exploring LTH.