ERIC Number: EJ1158791
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1925-0746
EISSN: N/A
Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of the Importance and Ability to Use Assistive Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Al-Dawaideh, Ahmad Mousa
World Journal of Education, v3 n6 p64-80 2013
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently work with people with severe communication disorders who require assistive technology (AT) for communication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the SLPs perceptions of the importance of and ability level required for using AT, and the relationship of AT with gender, level of education, training, place of work, and years of experience. To achieve this goal, the researcher adopted a questionnaire prepared by Currie et al. (1996) to determine SLPs perceptions of AT. The study revealed a number of results regarding SLPs perceptions of the importance and ability to use AT. The results indicated that all of the SLPs who participated in this study considered all of the items in the questionnaire to be valuable, and the respondents rated themselves as having a "low" to "high" ability of using AT. In addition, no statistically significant differences in the perceived importance and ability to use AT occurred between the male and female groups in all the categories and the total score of the scale. The results also indicated a statistically significant difference in the perceived importance and ability to use AT among the teaching experience groups and the training groups in all the categories and the total score of the scale. Participants with more years of experience and training produced more favorable results than the other participants did. In addition, no statistically significant differences in the perceived importance and ability to use AT occurred among the level of education groups in all the categories and the total score of the scale. Finally, a statistically significant difference in the perceived importance and ability to use AT occurred among the place of work groups in all the categories and the total score of the scale. The participants who worked in private settings produced more favorable results, except for the category "general computer knowledge," in which no statistically significant differences occurred among the participants.
Descriptors: Speech Language Pathology, Allied Health Personnel, Assistive Technology, Technological Literacy, Relevance (Education), Communication Disorders, Questionnaires, Use Studies, Technology Uses in Education, Minimum Competencies, Gender Differences, Work Experience, Educational Attainment, Geographic Location, Incidence, Demography, Statistical Analysis, Predictor Variables, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Saudi Arabia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A