Debugging the future: quality of life, academic success and student acceptability of assistive technology

<p>"Research has shown that integration of Assistive Technology (AT) in the educational environment is minimal but can offer life-changing benefits. My study explores the obstacles of AT and the relationship between acceptability of AT and student quality of life as well as individual self-reported academic success. I surveyed two existing groups of students at a regional comprehensive university. The first group is receiving assistance through instruction and tutoring services. The second group is receiving support to pursue future doctoral studies. Participants provided self-report of their academic strengths and challenges, acceptability of AT, and quality of life. I offered participants multiple opportunities to learn about and engage in different types of AT. Types of AT offered included: Read and Write Gold 10 (2013 Texthelp Ltd, 2013) Grammarly (Grammarly, Inc., 2013), and Dragon Naturally Speaking (Nuance Communications, Inc., 2012-2013). I predicted that higher self-reported academic challenges would increase acceptability towards AT and decrease self-reported quality of life. I also predicted that students with higher GPA would be less accepting to AT interventions. I found that there was no correlation between GPA and acceptability of AT or self-reported academic struggles and acceptability of AT. I did however find a significant negative correlation between quality of life and self-reported academic challenges."</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS) in Psychology: Clinical

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Flodin, Brooke

Contributors dc:contributor

• Susan Ruby
• Ryan Sain
• Kevin Hills

• Learning disabled--Education (Higher)--Washington (State)
• College students--Washington (State)--Psychology
• College students--Washington (State)--Attitudes
• Assistive computer technology
• Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• Access is available to all users

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/82

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.ewu.edu:theses-1081