Perception and Attitude of Pre-Tertiary Institution Students towards Computer Based Test in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Assessment is a pivotal part of the educational system and Computer Based Testing (CBT) is permeating the process of academic assessment globally. This study investigated the perception and attitude of pre-tertiary institution students towards CBT and the influence of gender and location on the perception and attitude of the students. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and data was collected from 599 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates in 3 states in southwestern Nigeria, using a multistage sampling technique. In carrying out this study, a questionnaire titled “Student’s Attitude and Perception Questionnaire (SAPQ)” was used to gather information from the respondents. Data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics including descriptive tables, Chi-Square test and independent samples t-test. Findings of this study indicated that students possess a positive perception (57.9%) towards CBT in terms of ease of use, perceived usefulness and credibility. Similarly, students showed a positive attitude (57.9%) towards CBT. Also, the study revealed that there is a significant difference in the perception and attitude of students towards the use of CBT based on location and gender. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the government, examination bodies and educational institutions should promote the use of CBT for examinations by implementing policies, educating students on CBT usage, and focusing on rural students to increase their knowledge and adoption of these technologies.