Analysis of anxiety-induced factors during Computer-Based Examination among Undergraduates in a Nigerian University: a case study

Abstract

The study explored factors that could induce anxiety during a computer based examination among
first year students in a Nigerian university. The study employed survey research method with 369
participants purposively selected as sample of the study. The instrument used for gathering the data
was tagged (Anxiety Induced by Computer Based Examination Questionnaire). It was adapted and
modified for the purpose of the study. The data gathered was subjected to factor analysis and
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis with AMOS statistical software. For extraction, the
data was subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with direct oblimin. Factor with
eigenvalue > 1 were extracted and three factors were realized. Out of 28 items used in the
instrument, 16 items were observed to load on the three factors extracted. . The internal consistence
of the factor was computed and each factor was greater than 0.7 alpha values. The total variance
explained was 59.50%, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of Sampling Adequacy (KMO) was 0.88
greater than 0.6 required threshold. The extracted factors are (Techno-induced anxiety), which
contained 4 items, (Human-induced anxiety) contained 3 items and (Exam-induced anxiety)
contained 8 items. The correlation analysis with AMOS showed an existence of causal relationship
among the three factors. The study has validated and provided empirical support for the existence of
3 factors interplay to induce anxiety of students exposed to computer based examination. The finding
has uncovered some of the causes of students' anxiety when they are subjected to computer-based
examinations.