Adapting to the Evolving Digital Landscape: Development and Validation of the VirtHuLab Self Efficacy Scale

Abstract

Measuring people’s self-efficacy in navigating the digital world has become essential in an age where the Internet permeates every aspect of life. This paper describes the creation and validation of the VISES (Virthulab Internet Self-Efficacy Scale), an instrument designed for the modern Internet environment. The way we work, communicate, and access information is changing as a result of the digital revolution, and VISES encapsulates the abilities and self-assurance needed to succeed in this Web 4.0 era. The study investigated the connections between VISES scores, Internet usage habits, net frustration, self-disparagement, and Internet addiction using a rigorous methodology. The study included a sample of 773 participants who could speak Italian (66.5% women). Participants were 31.38 years old on average (standard deviation = 11.19). The 3-factor structure of VISES, which demonstrated strong reliability for each subscale, was discovered by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). According to the study, there is a substantial positive link between the VISES Internet self-efficacy ratings and both the frequency and duration of online use. Additionally, VISES scores exhibited positive associations with expected outcomes of Internet use, including social outcomes, personal entertainment, and personal information. The negative link between VISES scores and net frustration and self-disparagement emphasized the importance of self-efficacy in reducing negative emotional and cognitive states while using the Internet. Surprisingly, the association between VISES scores and Internet addiction was found for just one of the dimensions of VISES.

Keywords

Internet self-efficacy internet usage net frustration web 4.0

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Afrianty

T. W.

Artatanaya

I. G.

Burgess

(2022). Working from home effectiveness during COVID-19: Evidence from university staff in Indonesia. Asia Pacific Management Review, 27(1), 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2021.05.002

Ajzen

Fishbein

(1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Prentice-Hall.

Ande

Adebisi

Hammoudeh

Saleem

(2020). Internet of things: Evolution and technologies from a security perspective. Sustainable Cities and Society, 54(1), Article 101728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101728

Azab

H. M.

Effat

S. M.

Mahmoud

O. A. A.

(2019). Correlation of internet addiction with anxiety, depression and personality traits–Upper Egypt study. Sohag Medical Journal, 23(1), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.21608/smj.2019.41383.

Bandura

(1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191–215. https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-295x.84.2.191

Bandura

(1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist, 37(2), 122–147. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.37.2.122

Bandura

(1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.

Bentler

P. M.

(1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.107.2.238

Bentler

P. M.

(1995). EQS structural equations program manual (vol 6). Multivariate software.

10.

Biran

Wilson

G. T.

(1981). Treatment of phobic disorders using cognitive and exposure methods: A self-efficacy analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49(6), 886–899. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.49.6.886

11.

Blackwood-Brown

C. G.

(2018). An empirical assessment of Senior citizens' cybersecurity awareness, computer self-efficacy, perceived risk of identity Theft. In Attitude, and motivation to acquire cybersecurity skills (Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University.

12.

Brislin

R. W.

(1970). Back-translation for cross-cultural research. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 1(3), 185–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910457000100301

13.

Browne

M. W.

Cudeck

(1992). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Sociological Methods & Research, 21(2), 230–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124192021002005

14.

Burkhart

Brass

(1990). Changing patterns of patterns changing: The effects of a change in technology on social network structure and power. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(2), 104–127. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393552.

15.

Central Statistic Office . (2020). Information society statistics - Households 2020. Type of internet activities. Available at: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-isshh/informationsocietystatistics-households2020/typeofinternetactivities/

16.

Charney

Greenberg

(2002). Uses and Gratifications of the internet. In Lin

Atkin

(Eds.), Communication, technology and society: New media adoption and Uses (pp. 379–407). Hampton Press.

17.

Charney

T. R.

(1996). Uses and Gratifications of the internet. Michigan State University.

18.

Compeau

Higgins

(1995). Computer self-efficacy: Development of a measure and initial test. MIS Quarterly, 19(2), 189–211. https://doi.org/10.2307/249688

19.

Compeau

Higgins

Huff

(1999). Social cognitive theory and individual reactions to computing technology: A longitudinal study. MIS Quarterly, 23(2), 145–158. https://doi.org/10.2307/249749

20.

Comrey

A. L.

(1988). Factor-analytic methods of scale development in personality and clinical psychology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(5), 754–761. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.754

21.

Comrey

A. L.

Lee

H. B.

(2013). A first course in factor analysis. Psychology press.

22.

Cramer

M. E.

Atwood

J. R.

Stoner

J. A.

(2006). Measuring community coalition effectiveness using the ICE instrument. Public Health Nursing, 23(1), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0737-1209.2006.230111.x

23.

Daoud

Starkey

Eppel

T. D.

Sylvester

(2020). The educational value of internet use in the home for school children: A systematic review of literature. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 53(4), 353–374. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2020.1783402

24.

DeLone

W. H.

(1988). Determinants of success for computer usage in small business. MIS Quarterly, 12(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.2307/248803

25.

Di Giulio

Vecchi

(2023). How “institutionalization” can work. Structuring governance for digital transformation in Italy. The Review of Policy Research, 40(3), 406–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12488

26.

Duradoni

Serritella

Avolio

Arnetoli

Guazzini

(2022). Development and validation of the digital life balance (DLB) scale: A brand-new measure for both Harmonic and Disharmonic Use of ICTs. Behavioral Sciences, 12(12), 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12120489

27.

Duradoni

Spadoni

Gursesli

M. C.

Guazzini

(2023). Development and validation of the need for online social feedback (NfOSF) scale. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2023(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5581492

28.

Eastin

M. S.

LaRose

(2000). Internet self-efficacy and the psychology of the digital divide. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 6(1), 0. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2000.tb00110.x

29.

Faul

Erdfelder

Lang

A.-G.

Buchner

(2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146

30.

Goel

Gupta

(2020). Social media in the times of COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 26(6), 220–223.

31.

Gordan

Krishanan

I. A.

(2014). A review of B. F. Skinnerâ€™s â€˜Reinforcement theory of Motivationâ€™. International journal of research in education methodology, 5(3), 680–688. https://doi.org/10.24297/ijrem.v5i3.3892

32.

Gruchel

Kurock

Bonanati

Buhl

H. M.

(2022). Parental involvement and Children's internet uses-Relationship with parental role construction, self-efficacy, internet skills, and parental instruction. Computers & Education, 182(9), Article 104481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104481

33.

Guazzini

Serritella

La Gamma

Duradoni

(2022). Italian version of the internet self-efficacy scale: Internal and external validation. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2022(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9347172

34.

Hantrais

Allin

Kritikos

Sogomonjan

Anand

P. B.

Livingstone

Williams

Innes

(2021). COVID-19 and the digital revolution. Contemporary Social Science, 16(2), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2020.1833234

35.

Hargittai

Micheli

(2019). Internet skills and why they matter. Society and the internet: How networks of information and communication are changing our lives, 109(2), 109–124. https://books.google.it/books?hl=it&lr=&id=vdShDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA109&ots=zIBW99Lpj2&sig=EalLGnm8GnXr7c-6g3O-o60U1pQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false.

36.

Hatayama

Viollaz

Winkler

(2020). Jobs’ amenability to working from home: Evidence from skills surveys for 53 countries. World Bank policy research working paper, 9241. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3599548.

37.

Hodson

(2018). Digital revolution. Nature, 563(7733), S131. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07500-z

38.

L. T.

Bentler

P. M.

(1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

39.

Igbaria

Iivari

Maragahh

(1995). Why do individuals use computer technology? A Finnish case study. Information & management, 29(5), 227–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7206(95)00031-0

40.

Igbaria

Pavri

F. N.

Huff

S. L.

(1989). Microcomputer applications: An empirical look at usage. Information & Management, 16(4), 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7206(89)90036-0

41.

Jaiswal

Manchanda

Gautam

Goel

A. D.

Aneja

Raghav

P. R.

(2020). Burden of internet addiction, social anxiety and social phobia among University students, India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 9(7), 3607–3612. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_360_20

42.

Jöreskog

K. G.

(1969). A general approach to confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 34(2), 183–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02289343

43.

Keltner

Gruenfeld

D. H.

Anderson

(2003). Power, approach, and inhibition. Psychological Review, 110(2), 265–284. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.110.2.265

44.

Khaleel Ibrahim

(2021). Evolution of the web: From web 1.0 to 4.0. Qubahan Academic Journal, 1(3), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v1n3a75

45.

Kim

Glassman

(2013). Beyond search and communication: Development and validation of the internet self-efficacy scale (ISS). Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1421–1429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.01.018

46.

Kline

R. B.

(2023). Principles and Practice of structural Equation modeling. Guilford Publications.

47.

Knell

(2021). The digital revolution and digitalized network society. Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, 2(1), 9–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43253-021-00037-4

48.

Kraut

Patterson

Lundmark

Kiesler

Mukopadhyay

Scherlis

(1998). Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? American Psychologist, 53(9), 1017–1031. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.53.9.1017

49.

Langarizadeh

Naghipour

Tabatabaei

S. M.

Mirzaei

Vaghar

M. E.

(2018). Prediction of internet addiction based on information literacy among students of Iran University of Medical Sciences. Electronic Physician, 10(2), 6333–6340. https://doi.org/10.19082/6333

50.

LaRose

Eastin

Gregg

LaRose

Eastin

M. S.

Gregg

(2001). Reformulating the internet paradox. Journal of online behavior, 1(2). https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-14047-001.

51.

Leung

Lee

P. S.

(2012). The influences of information literacy, internet addiction and parenting styles on internet risks. New Media & Society, 14(1), 117–136. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444811410406

52.

Ling

Yelland

Hatzigianni

Dickson-Deane

(2022). The use of internet of things devices in early childhood education: A systematic review. Education and Information Technologies, 27(5), 6333–6352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10872-x

53.

Livingstone

Mascheroni

Staksrud

(2018). European research on children’s internet use: Assessing the past and anticipating the future. New Media & Society, 20(3), 1103–1122. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816685930

54.

Magsamen-Conrad

Billotte-Verhoff

Greene

(2014). Technology addiction’s contribution to mental wellbeing: The positive effect of online social capital. Computers in Human Behavior, 40(1), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.07.014

55.

Mano

Rosenberg

(2021). Online and offline social activity and sociability effects on wellbeing and social influence: A “Spillover” effect. Advances in Applied Sociology, 11(01), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.4236/aasoci.2021.111005

56.

McGaughey

R. E.

Zeltmann

S. M.

McMurtrey

M. E.

(2013). Motivations and obstacles to smartphone use by the elderly: Developing a research framework. International Journal of Electronic Finance, 7(3/4), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijef.2013.058601

57.

Mendrika

Darmawan

Anjanarko

T. S.

Jahroni

Shaleh

Handayani

(2021). The effectiveness of the work from home (WFH) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Social Science Studies, 1(2), 44–46. https://doi.org/10.56348/jos3.v1i2.12

58.

Morrison

E. W.

See

K. E.

Pan

(2015). An approach‐inhibition model of employee silence: The joint effects of personal sense of power and target openness. Personnel Psychology, 68(3), 547–580. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12087

59.

Nunnally

J. C.

Bernstein

I. H.

(1994). Psychometric theory New York. McGraw-Hill.

60.

O’Connell

Kirwan

(2014). Protection motivation theory and online activities. Cyberpsychology and New Media: A thematic reader, 139–148. https://www-taylorfrancis-com-443.web.bisu.edu.cn/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203796610-17/protection-motivation-theory-online-activities-richard-connell-gr%C3%A1inne-kirwan.

61.

Oliver

T. A.

Shapiro

(1993). Self-efficacy and computers. Journal of Computer-Based Interactions, 20(3), 81–85. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ476367.

62.

Park

C. J.

Hyun

J. S.

(2014). Internet literacy vs. technology addiction: Relationship analysis with time perspectives of secondary school students. Advanced Science and Technology Letters, 59(43), 23–26. https://doi.org/10.14257/astl.2014.59.05.

63.

Reglitz

(2020). The human right to free internet access. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 37(2), 314–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12395

64.

Schneider

S. L.

Council

M. L.

(2021). Distance learning in the era of COVID-19. Archives of Dermatological Research, 313(5), 389–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-020-02088-9

65.

Servidio

(2017). Assessing the psychometric properties of the internet addiction test: A study on a sample of Italian university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 68(9), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.019

66.

Stodt

Wegmann

Brand

(2016). Predicting dysfunctional Internet use: The role of age, conscientiousness, and Internet literacy in Internet addiction and cyberbullying. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, 6(4), 28–43. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijcbpl.2016100103

67.

Stoilova

Livingstone

Khazbak

(2021). Investigating risks and Opportunities for children in a digital world: A rapid review of the evidence on children’s internet use and outcomes. UNICEF.

68.

Sum

Mathews

R. M.

Pourghasem

Hughes

(2009). Internet use as a predictor of sense of community in older people. CyberPsychology and Behavior: The Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society, 12(2), 235–239. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0150

69.

Tabachuk

N. P.

Ledovskikh

I. A.

Shulika

N. A.

Kazinets

V. A.

Polichka

A. E.

(2018). Internet activity and internet addiction: Where is the borderline in developing one’s information competency? Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(12), em1640. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/97828

70.

Teo

T. S.

Lim

V. K.

Lai

R. Y.

(1999). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in Internet usage. Omega, 27(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0305-0483(98)00028-0

71.

Thompson

R. L.

Higgins

C. A.

Howell

J. M.

(1991). Personal computing: Toward a conceptual model of utilization. MIS Quarterly, 15(1), 125–143. https://doi.org/10.2307/249443

72.

Tindall

I. K.

Curtis

G. J.

(2019). Validation of the measurement of need frustration. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1), 1742. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01742

73.

Tonioni

D'Alessandris

Lai

Martinelli

Corvino

Vasale

Fanella

Aceto

Bria

(2012). Internet addiction: Hours spent online, behaviors and psychological symptoms. General Hospital Psychiatry, 34(1), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.09.013

74.

Torkzadeh

Van Dyke

T. P.

Dyke

(2002). Effects of training on Internet self-efficacy and computer user attitudes. Computers in Human Behavior, 18(5), 479–494. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0747-5632(02)00010-9

75.

Tsai

M. J.

Tsai

C. C.

(2010). Junior high school students’ internet usage and self-efficacy: A re-examination of the gender gap. Computers & Education, 54(4), 1182–1192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2009.11.004

76.

Tucker

L. R.

Lewis

(1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 38(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02291170

77.

Venkatesh

Morris

M. G.

Davis

G. B.

Davis

F. D.

(2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540

78.

Verhoef

P. C.

(2003). Understanding the effect of customer relationship management efforts on customer retention and customer share development. Journal of Marketing, 67(4), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.67.4.30.18685

79.

We Are Social

WAS.

(2023). Digital 2023. Global Overview report. We Are Social Ltd. Available at: https://wearesocial.com/uk/blog/2023/01/digital-2023

80.

Y. T.

Tsai

C. C.

(2006). University students' internet attitudes and internet self-efficacy: A study at three Universities in Taiwan. CyberPsychology and Behavior: The Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society, 9(4), 441–450. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.441

81.

Young

K. S.

(1998). Internet addiction: The Emergence of a new clinical Disorder. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 1(3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.1998.1.237

82.

Zainal

N. C.

Puad

M. H. M.

Sani

N. F. M.

(2022). Moderating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between knowledge, attitude and environment behavior of cybersecurity awareness. Asian Social Science, 18(1), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v18n1p55

83.

Zhang

(2007). Development and validation of an internet use attitude scale. Computers & Education, 49(2), 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.05.005

84.

Zhao

Huang

Wang

(2010). Internet inequality: The relationship between high school students’ Internet use in different locations and their Internet self-efficacy. Computers & Education, 55(4), 1405–1423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.05.010

85.

Zlomuzica

Preusser

Schneider

Margraf

(2015). Increased perceived self-efficacy facilitates the extinction of fear in healthy participants. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 9(8), 270. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00270