THE JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, AND VALUES

by Carmen de Pablos Heredero <cpablos@poseidon.fcjs.urjc.es>, Irene Albarrán Lozano & Antonio Montero Navarro

.01. Introduction Communications: Electronic Mail (Return to Index)

Table 1- Electronic mail versus personnel communication advantages

ELECTRONIC MAIL ADVANTAGES PERSONNEL COMMUNICATION ADVANTAGES
Quickness and reliability in the reception and sending of messages Personal contact increase
It does not require for the sender or receiver to be in a certain fixed place It allows a better transmission of complex messages
It is easy to store, resend and integrate It improves messages consistency
Low cost It increases\ motivation and enthusiasm
  It allows a better understanding in some cases

.02. Objective in the Study (Return to Index)

    In a university field, in which there is an important need to establish communications with main objectives in the research amongst people and workteams, the use of electronic mail is essential. In the Spanish university environment there is not a specific policy for a formal use of electronic mail. In the United States, some initiatives have been developed in relation to this theme, on trying to develop policies for using the tool, by looking for a consistency with mission and university objectives (Anderson et al., 1996).

    Although some studies have been developed over the use of electronic mail in private enterprises, it is often more unusual to find work based in the use of this tool by the Public Administration. We consider of interest to know some data related to the use of electronic mail by professors, as it is a group of persons that can clearly influence in the technological training of future workers.

    For that, our study, developed in Madrid's Public Universities, has as main objectives :

    • To develop a brief description of attitudes, use degree of satisfaction and expectations over computer media, especially electronic mail, in the area of study.
    • To check the existence of relationships amongst some variables in the study. Concretely, we have studied the influence of previous attitude and knowledge towards software packages and their usage.
    • To show some of main differences and common points amongst various universities in the study.

.03.- Methodolgy (Return to Index)

    In order to know main parameters in the use of electronic mail in the university, a survey was sent to the whole population of professors and researchers of the public universities in Madrid, in the period of November and December 1998, and in the beginning of January 1999. In these universities there are working 13.648 professors and researchers, as last available figures from the beginning of academic year 1998-1999 show.

    The survey is divided into five parts, composed of 23 questions. Every part is dedicated to a different aspect :

    • Personal data, in which main characteristics related to surveyed people are checked, in order to delimitate some e-mail user's profiles.
    • Previous attitude, in this part we have tried to know and evaluate which is the main attitude for computers in general and for electronic mail in particular.
    • Training, knowledge level about some the most important considered electronic media in order to use them as tools for teaching or researching, and the use of the so-called tools. This time, one tries to know in which way one has been able to achieve nowadays degree of use in electronic mail.
    • Use of electronic mail, some questions in relationship with degree of use of electronic mail, message content and recommendations about its use are questioned.
    • Satisfaction and expectations, in this part we try to know which is the degree of satisfaction that various users show about electronic mail, the evaluation of these communication means and the explanation of some of its main problems.

    The next table shows some of the different questions considered in the survey, and variables utilized for the statistical treatment.

TABLE 2.- Questionnaire

DATA TYPE OF VARIABLE
PART I: PERSONNEL DATA  
Age Qualitative : categorical(from 1 to 5)
University Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 6)
Knowledge area Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 5)
Years working at university Qualitative : discrete
Years developing actual job Qualitative : discrete
Professional status Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 7)
PART II : PREVIOUS ATTITUDE  
Attitude through computer tools Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 5)
Attitude through electronic mail Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 5)
PART III: TRAINING  
Level of knowledge of text processors Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of knowledge of electronic sheets Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of knowledge of internet Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of knowledge of electronic mail Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of knowledge of digital data bases Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of knowledge of statistic-mathematic software Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of text processors Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of electronic sheets Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of internet Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of electronic mail Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of digital databases Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Level of use of statistic-mathematic software Qualitative : categorical (from 0 to 5)
Way of achieving actual knowledge of e-mail Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 4)
PART IV : USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL  
Daily time of e-mail usage Qualitative : discrete
Number of messages daily sent by e-mail Qualitative : discrete
Percentage of messages with strictly laboral content Qualitative : discrete
Percentage of messages with non laboral content Qualitative : discrete
Percentage of messages that do not arrive to destination Qualitative : discrete
Position over the use of sense of humour in the messages Qualitative : categorical (from 1 to 5)
PART V : SATISFACTION AND EXPECTATIONS  
Advantages in the use of electronic mail Qualitative : opened
Main problems in the use of electronic mail Qualitative : opened
Do you know some firms control messages? Qualitative : dicotomic
Do you consider it an adequate action? explain it Qualitative : dicotomic opened
Are there in your actual work specific rules related to e-mail use Qualitative : dicotomic
Are there specific security measures ? Qualitative : dicotomic opened
Do you consider e-mail as a secure tool for communication ? Qualitative : dicotomic

.04. Results (Return to Index)

    1.Descriptive analysis

    1.General data

    The deadline for receiving surveys, after an ampliation, was closed in a definitive way the first of March. This time, 910 answers had been received, although there are lost values in some of the questions. From this, most of the respondents come from the Complutense University in Madrid, UCM (273, 30,7%), followed by the Autonoma University from Madrid, UAM (166), Politechnic University in Madrid, UPM (163), Alcala de Henares University, UAH (126), Carlos III University, UC3M (118), Rey Juan Carlos University, URJC (43).

    As we can observe, most answers have to be with people from the Complutense University in Madrid. This is mainly due to the big quantity of people that work, it is now one of the biggest Universities in Spain. After, we can also check the percentage of responses in every university in relationship with professors, the level of reponse obtained has been over 6%, having reached better indexes the new universities, Carlos III University and Rey Juan Carlos University, together with Alcalá de Henares.

    TABLE 3.- Response percentage by universities

Complutense (UCM) Autónoma (UAM) Politécnica (UPM) Alcalá (UAH) Carlos III (UC3M) Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) TOTAL
Professors 5863 2034 3182 1149 815 391 13434
Answers 273 166 163 126 118 43 889
Percentage 4,8% 8,4% 5,2% 11,2% 14,8% 11,3% 6,8%

    If we consider areas of knowledge, the answers have been, Social Sciences (262), Engineering (234), Experimental Sciences (210), Health Sciences (100) and Humanitites (103).

    Lastly, in Table 4 we can check reponse indexes by professional categories. The great reponse index in the generic category "others", has senior professors, visitors and other contractual varieties, we can even stress assistant professors, that mean more than 10% of total responses.

    TABLE 4.- Response Percentage by professional category

  Professors in University Associates in University Professors in Technical University Associates in Technical University Senior Assistants Junior Assistants Others
Number of teachers 1505 4411 225 1970 4538 785 116
Responses 129 347 12 97 162 100 44
Percentage 8,57% 7,87% 5,33% 4,92% 3,57% 12,74% 37,93%

    By observing the frequencies of response we could establish a profile of responses. It is on average an associate in university, with nine years of experience in his actual job or similar, he is about forty years old (with a great difference in the Rey Juan Carlos University, which is the newest one).

    4.1.2.- Previous attitude to electronic mail and computer media

    Attitude to computers and electronic mail is very positive in every case. General values put an emphasis in positive attitudes or very positive in the e-mail, in 96% of answers, having lightly decreased (92%) the figures if we refer to attitude to computers.

    TABLE 5.- Attitude to computers and electronic mail by universities

  UCM UAM UPM UAH UC3M URJC
e-mail attitude "++" (62%) "++" (68,1%) "++" (66,4%) "++" (62,7%) "++" (72%) "++" (62,8%)
media attitude "+" (49%) "+" (48,2%) "++" (57,1%) "++" (49,2) "++" (53,4) "+" (51,2%)

    The attitude towards computers is positive ("+") in all professional categories, except for associate professors, that show a completely positive attitude ("++"). In concerning with knowledge areas, again most attitudes are positive ones, except in engineering areas (that it is completely positive). The predominant attitude through electronic mail is, however, completely positive, except in the area of humanities and in the professional category of Professor of Technical University, which is simply positive.

    3.Knowledge and use of computer tools

    In Table number 6, we can observe general data related to knowledge and use of electronic mail. Responses have been again classified in three different levels, low, medium and high respectively (1,2 and 3).

    We can observe the existence of two groups of computer tools that we could call simple and complex ones. This way, people asked show, in general, high level of knowledge and use in the electronic mail, text processors and Internet, while levels related to digital databases, electronic sheets and mathematic-statistical packages are slightly low. These two groups are characterized by different behaviours: while the so called of "easy use", knowledge is higher, the complex ones are generally learned for their use, in these last ones knowledge and use go together.

      TABLE 6.- Knowledge and Use of Electronic Mail

  Media 1 2 3
KNOWLEDGE

Electronic Sheets

 2 30,2% 42,8% 27,0%
Electronic Mail 2,5 4,2% 29,9% 65,9%
Digital Data Bases 1,7 47,8% 34,3% 17,9%
Internet 2,3 8,9% 49,8% 41,3%
Statistical packages 1,7 45,1% 35,4% 19,6%
Text processors 2,7 5,0% 26,8% 72,7%
USE

Electronic Sheets

 1,8 41,1% 31,2% 27,7%
Electronic Mail 2,7 5,2% 16.6% 78,2%
Digital Data Bases 1,6 55,3% 27,9% 16,9%
Internet 2,4 13,7% 38,4% 47,9%
Statistical Packages 1,6 52,0% 27,6% 20,4%
Text processors 2,8 1,0% 11,2% 87,7%

    In a new table (number 7), we collect the mean numbers we have obtained for knowledge and use of computer tools in relation with knowledge area.

    TABLE 7.- Knowledge and use of computer tools by areas of knowledge

  Humanities Social Sciences Engineerings Experimental Sciences Health Sciences
KNOWLEDGE          
Electronic Sheets 1,4 2 2,2 1,8 1,8
Electronic Mail 2,4 2,5 2,7 2,5 2,4
Digital Data Bases 1,5 1,7 1,8 1,5 1,6
Internet 2,1 2,3 2,5 2,2 2,10
Statistical Packages 1,1 1,8 1,9 1,7 1,5
Text Processors 2,7 2,7 2,8 2,6 2,5
USE          
Electronic Sheets 1,3 1,9 2,10 1,6 1,8
Electronic Mail 2,7 2,6 2,8 2,7 2,5
Digital Data Bases 1,5 1,6 1,5 1,5 1,6
Internet 2 2,3 2,5 2,2 2,2
Statistical Packages 1,1 1,8 1,7 1,6 1,5
Text Processors 2,8 2,8 2,8 2,8 2,7

    Engineering Professors seem to have greater knowledge in all computer tools, and Humanities ones, seem to have lower levels. This difference is repeated constantly in the case of tool use. In the case of text processors, the tool is equally known and used by different knowledge areas, apart from their specialization.

    This difference is reproduced by universities, since practically the whole group of the Polytechnic University are in Engineering. They show a greater knowledge in the use of all computer media. By professional categories, we can stress that those who possess a greater knowledge in these tools are Assistant ones. In general all categories have an upper knowledge degree in word processors and electronic mail. Technical and University Professors know and use fewer databases and electronic mail. University Professors use fewer data bases and Internet in general.

    With a great difference in all universities, self-training is the commonest way to acquire knowledge about electronic mail. In the Rey Juan Carlos University, the Polithecnic University and Alcalá de Henares, the percentage is over 50%. There are also many answers that include a mix in this option with some others, that is, with a brief explanation from friends and knowledgable people, with classes in the university or other kind of classes.

    4.1.4.- Use of electronic mail

    In this part, we try to find out some details in relationship with the use of electronic mail. Mean time in daily use of electronic mail is about 32 minutes (a 27,7% from the answers use it half an hour a day). However it is important to stress that there is a great dispersion (35 minutes), and the presence of a group over 15,5% that daily use electronic mail during an hour or more time. By universities, answers go from mean values about 40 minutes in the case of professors from the Polytechnic University to 23 minutes in the case of the Rey Juan Carlos University.

    In relation to the number of sent messages, we can check that in mean numbers, four messages are sent per day, although there is a great dispersion (7,8 standard deviation). A 24% of the people send two daily messages and 22% reply one. Paradoxically, there is a person who admits to send daily 98 messages. Once again, the Polytechnic University is stressed over the rest (6 messages per day), and if we take into account areas, engineering is the most important one.

    TABLE 8.- Use of electronic mail

  Complutense University (UCM) Autónoma University (UAM) Polytechnic University (UPM) Alcalá de Henares University (UAH) Carlos III University (UC3M) Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) MEAN
mean time of use per day 27 35 40 27 39 24 32
mean number

of sent messages

 3,4 4 6 3 4 3 4
strictly laboral messages (all) 38% 37,80% 36,10% 41,30% 26,70% 27,50% 36,20%
non laboral messages (any) 38,70% 38,60% 39,60% 30,40% 30,40% 33,30% 36,30%
all messages arrive

into destination

 48,40% 57,20% 57% 42,20% 53,20% 34,30% 50%
number of persons that do not belong to a listserver 50% 27,50% 41,40% 32,80% 24.10% 64,20% 39%
sense of humour (as a voluntary choice) 52% 56,50% 52,20% 55,90% 61,70% 50% 50,50%

    In relationship with the percentage of messages with a whole laboral sense, more than a third of professors say that all of them are, while only two thirds assure that more than a 75% of their messages are completely laboral. At the same time, almost four of ten professors do not ever send non-laboral messages, and only 25% send over 25% as number of non-laboral messages. These figures are slightly better than the ones that have been received in practically all studies that have been developed in firms, since there is a need to take advantage of resources that professionals working in every kind of firm. In any case, and out of this consideration, we have been able to contrast that there is an absolute independence between the variable "use of electronic mail" and number of strictly laboral messages (that it is, the first one does not condition the second one). Rey Juan Carlos University mixes two curious faces, as it is the major number of strictly laboral messages and the greatest quantity of messages with a non-laboral character. By categories, professors from University represent the biggest percentage of strictly laboral messages, while assistants and others are the ones that less percentage represent in this study.

    About half of the people in the study state that all their messages arrive into destination and most of the rest signal that there is a small number of lost messages. The smallest percentage of lost messages come from Engineering (hardly the biggest number of messages by mean), against Humanities. In our opinion, this could have a relationship with the technological training of the different groups.

    Table 9 shows the percentage of answers that indicate the opinion of the groups about using a certain sense of humour in the messages sent by electronic mail:

    TABLE 9.- Sense of humour in the messages of electronic mail

Considered aspect Percentage of responses
it is a waste of time and resources 11%
it is easily misunderstood 6,5%
it is a voluntary choice 55,6%
it is good 19,4%
It is adequate, even for professional messages 7,6%

    On forgetting the answers that state that it is an opinion, it seems to be a greater of favourable opinions that opposite ones. The answer to that question is quite uniform by Universities and knowledge areas, although there is a great divergence by categories. We can stress that Technical University Professors mainly perceive that the sense of humour is a waste of resources and time.

    4.1.5.- Satisfaction and expectations

    In the last part of the survey we have tried to find out about advantages and problems derived from the use of electronic mail in this environment, and this time be sure about the perception of asked people about the security problems in networks and to know other opinions.

    TABLE 10.- Satisfaction and expectations over electronic mail

  Complutense University (UCM) Autónoma University (UAM) Polythecnic University (UPM) Alcalá de Henares University (UAH) Carlos III University (UC3M) Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) MEAN
Existence of rules about electronic mail 6,20% 12,90% 11,70% 6,70% 33,30% 0% 11,90%
Knowledge over control of messages 16,50% 35,40% 44,90% 10,50% 41,10% 29,30% 37,80%
Knowledge about security measures 9,40% 19,80% 20,30% 20% 51,60% 26,30% 27,70%
Consideration of electronic mail as a secured technology 49% 54,20% 49,40% 54,20% 67,30% 46,30% 53,40%

    Electronic mail, is generally considered as a secure communication tool. We can stress the case of the Carlos III University, that presents a better knowledge about the existence of security rules and measures over electronic mail. In the other hand we can observe that most professors do not know about the existence of controls in the contents of electronic mails. It is important to check that in the Rey Juan Carlos University none of the professors know of any rule over electronic mail use, although one important part of them employ security measures.

    Tables 11 and 12 show frequencies got in the advantages and disadvantages of electronic mail that have been stressed as more important by participants.

    TABLE 11.- Advantages of the use of electronic mail

ADVANTAGES Complutense University (UCM) Autónoma University (UAM) Polythecnic University (UPM) Alcalá de Henares University (UAH) Carlos III University (UC3M) Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) TOTAL
1.- information quickness 184 91 134 120 129 40 698
2.- few confidentiality or privacy 180 34 56 13 12 33 328
3.- file transfer 100 58 12 107 51 13 241
4.- costs 98 18 41 14 30 15 216
5.- comfortability 15 15 13 13 54 15 125
6.- versatility 55 13 6 5 13 6 98
7.- communication 14 13 36 15 4 12 94
8.- security 13 12 12 6 3 8 54
9.- messages storing 1 2 1 8 2 2 16
10.- manager simplifier 1 3 1 3 1 1 10

    The main perceived advantage is the fastness in the communication, recognised by 700 responses (from the total 889 received). There are also some important considerations as, for example, simplicity and easy use, the possibility to send other files and a low cost. In relationship with problems appeared as a consequence of electronic mail use, it has been stressed by priority order:

Table 12; Perceived Disadvantages

PROBLEMS Complutense University

(UCM)

 Autónoma University

(UAM)

 Polythecnic University

(UPM)

 Alcalá de Henares University

(UAH)

 Carlos III University

(UC3M)

 Rey Juan Carlos University

(URJC)

 TOTAL
1.- many different softwares 199 55 53 12 13 13 345
2.- few confidentiality and privacy 149 13 28 46 15 12 263
3.- high timetable dedication 14 36 17 19 36 34 120
4.- some messages do not arrive 36 35 2 17 13 13 116
5.- impersonality 55 5 3 2 1 1 67
6.- publicity 12 3 4 1 1 5 26
7.- lost of information 13 3 4 1 1 2 24
8.- viruses 3 3 2 4 5 2 19
9.- delays 3 1 1 3 2 2 12
10.- it has not problems 3 2 1 3 2 1 11
11.- lack of

generalized use

 1 3 4 0 0 3 11
12.- difficult access 2 2 0 5 0 2 11
13.- failures, technical problems 5 0 0 0 5 0 10

    The biggest disadvantage about the use of electronic mail is the existence of various programmes that manage the tool. This can make it more difficult the understanding and weakly modify formats. There are also answers related to confidentiality or the need of time. To solve some of these problems, are two of the main security measures mentioned in the answers : antivirus and the use of key words.

    The quantity of perceived advantages by the users is often close to double the inconveniences, where we can conclude that there is a high satisfaction in the use of the electronic mail. Professors consider it as an agile and inexpensive way of transmitting information that makes it easier for some communications although in some cases, with lack of confidentiality.

    The possibility, even the legality of an eventual received and sent message control by email is a controversial. The next table collects answers to these questions, classified by universities and grouped in more positive, medium, less positive.

    TABLE 13.- Opinions over control measures in the electronic mail

OPINIONS UC3 UPM UCM UAM UAH URJC TOTAL
1.- Unconstitutional: violates intimacy rights 30 28 144 26 72 16 438
2.- It is not adequate 15 101 181 55 7 5 364
3.- Inprocedent 2 14 34 56 33 16 155
4.- Never 55 15 36 4 16 16 155
5.- Unjustifiable : DELIT 15 54 14 5 13 33 134
6.- Horror 17 36 13 0 0 0 66
7.- Intolerable 3 1 16 14 15 0 49
8.- No, It is low and unworry 2 14 0 3 0 0 19
9.- Never at the University 2 0 0 0 1 14 17
10.- Depends 38 0 0 0 3 0 41
11.- Indifferent 1 8 0 0 3 16 28
12.- Yes, because time is consumed 13 36 0 0 17 3 69
13.- They are professionals 56 0 0 0 0 1 57
14.- Yes, even in personal messages 5 14 15 0 0 0 34
15.- Yes in private firms, not in public ones 2 3 0 0 0 17 22

    First to say about the achieved responses is that the question has not been indifferent to most people. The existence of more answers that received surveys implies that expressed opinions are complex, especially when they do not agree with the control, since professors keep different arguments. especially significant it is the existence of a group that supports the control of messages when they are professionals, especially in an environment like the university where confidentiality in some research is crucial.

    Most favourable opinions about the control of electronic mail are based in the waste of time it generates sometimes, while most contrary efforts keep the idea that it is a violation of intimity rights, in comparison with, for example, a phone conversation.

    As a conclusion in this part, we can affirm that electronic mail is, in general, evaluated in a positive way although some disadvantages are still perceived; professors do not consider the tool as a futuristic one but as a present element to use.

    4.2.- Correlation study

    Now, we proceed to the study of correlations, before the formulation of some hypothesis in the paper.

    There is a significative correlation (over 59%) in the attitude towards computer media and towards electronic mail. It is a logical relationship, due to the fact that the time employed is the same (in the computer), and the electronic mail keeps strong relationships with some computer tools (as for example, text processors to send messages).

    Slightly less, although also significant, is the relationship amongst attitude and knowledge towards electronic mail, closely aligned with the psychological theories about computer media. In the same situation, the relationship between attitude towards electronic mail and its use (close to 50%) is found. Finally, in the same group, although slightly higher is the relationship between knowledge and use of electronic mail.

    To contrast in certain way the veracity of the previous statements, we can observe that, although less, there is a certain correlation between knowledge of electronic mail and time dedicated to its use (26%). Apart from this, the mean time of electronic mail usage is related with the number of sent messages, although only at the 16% level.

    The previously-established relations concerning electronic mail have also been applied to the rest of computer media. In this sense, there are strong relationships (over 75%) in the knowledge and use of internet, digital databases and statistical packages. We can explain these high correlations, especially the last two ones, due to the difficulty in the learning of these tools, that are only going to be justified if they are going to be utilized.

    The degree of knowledge over internet is also positively correlated with the use of electronic mail (53%). Besides, due to the possibility of building electronic mail by Internet, this relationship is supported since both technologies belong to the telematic area.

    As some curiosities, we can stress the strong negative correlation (about 54%) between the age of the people surveyed and the percentage of messages with a non-laboral content. Most of these messages with no laboral content are sent by the youngest people.

    4.3.- Formulation and hypothesis contrast

    Taking into account the Theory of the Reasoned Action (Fishbein and Ajzenis, 1975), attitude shows the quantity of affection that one person feels "towards or against" some object or behaviour. Attitude of a person in relationship with information technology is referred to the fact if the person feels that information technology is positive or negative. Davis et al. (1989) find that the the feelings people have towards information technology is positive or negative. Davis et al. (1989) find that people's attitudes to the use of information technologies is directly related with the perception these persons have about the technology. Orlikowsky and Gash (1994) maintain that the knowledge people have on the technological behaviour is critical to understand the interaction.

    From these theories we can directly derive the following hypotheses :

      H1 : There is a direct relationship in the attitude people have towards e-mail and the knowledge of it.
      H2 : There is a relationship between electronic mail knowledge and use of electronic mail.
      H3 : There is a direct relationship between attitude towards computer media and knowledge of computer media.
      H4 : There is a relationship between knowledge and use of computer media.

    In the same way, we can affirm that electronic mail keeps a narrower relationship with some computer media than with other ones. This way, due to the fact that most sent messages today have a high textual content, we could relate knowledge of text processors with e-mail use. In the same way, with the same origin and certain convergence of technologies we can postulate a relationship between internet knowledge and electronic mail use. These opinions are supported by the correlation study we have developed before.

      H5 : There is a direct relationship between text processors knowledge and the use of electronic mail.
      H6 : There is a direct relationship between internet knowledge and the use of electronic mail.

    Apart from these hypotheses, directly derived from the theory and the observation, we will have the opportunity to contrast the existence of some other relations and variables conditioning.

    For the contrast of the before-mentioned hypothesis ANOVA (variance analysis) has been utilized . In all cases the null hypothesis of mean iguality has been refused. This way, the relationships between attitude and knowledge in one hand, and knowledge and use of electronic mail with the rest of computer media in the other hand have been checked. Now, we indicate signification levels in the case of the electronic mail.

    TABLE 14.- Values in the variance analysis

Relationship F. Snedecor Significance level
Electronic mail attitude towards electronic mail knowledge 40,23 0,000
Electronic mail knowledge towards electronic mail use 212,11 0,000
Internet knowledge towards electronic mail use 53,29 0,000
Text processors knowledge towards electronic mail use 16,77 0,000

    A very interesting and surprising argument at the same time is, however, that it has been impossible to check the existence of a direct relationship between attitude and use of various computer media, including electronic mail. This way we have achieved the conclusion that the initial perception of a media is only related to the real use through the learning of the tool, the knowledge acquired.

    The second group of hypotheses (5 and 6), related to the relationship amongst different media, have been already checked, so we can affirm that the most related computer software with electronic mail are internet and text processors. Some characteristics in common have already been indicated, but we could add some others, as the easy learning of these tools, in general self-made, or universality in the subjects.

    4.4.- Contingency tables

    To finish, we are going to show a contingency table showing the values of uses and knowledge for the different areas, so that main similarities and differences amongst them are stressed.

    TABLE 15.- Contingencies by knowledge area

  Social Sciences Technology and Engineering Sciences Experimental

Sciences

 Health Sciences Humanities
Use of electronic sheets Medium-low Medium Medium-low Medium Very low
Use of electronic mail High High High High High
Use of databases Low Low Medium-low Medium-low Low
Use of Internet Medium Medium-high Medium Medium Medium
Use of statistical software Medium Medium Medium Medium-low Very low
Use of text processors High High High High High
Knowledge of electronic sheets Medium-low Medium Medium-low Medium-low Low
Knowledge of electronic mail Medium-high High High High Medium-high
Knowledge of databases Low Medium-low Low Low Low
Knowledge of internet Medium Medium-high Medium Medium Medium
Knowledge of statistical software Medium-low Medium-low Low Low Very low
Knowledge of text processors High Medium-high High Medium-high High
Attitude towards media ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
Attitude towards electronic mail ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

.05.- Conclusions (Return to Index)

    In this paper we have tried to develop a brief approach to the use of electronic mail in the public universities in Madrid. For that, we have started by considering the knowledge of a relevant part in theory towards this communication media, and we have contrasted it with data collected in the developed survey.

    Electronic mail has now a great relevance, even bigger in the university environment. The need to collect data and do research in groups should be the basis for highly using electronic mail. High versatility and the easiness in the manipulation convert it potentially in the most important communication media for the tasks of research.

    There is a positive attitude towards electronic mail. Only some inconveniences such as the absence of a generalized standard or lack of confidentiality avoid a plain use to some persons. We consider that the use will be increasing as user's technical training increases too, and with the development of security tools too. We must, however stress the existence of some significative differences by universities, knowledge areas and professional categories, that we consider that tend to be reduced in time.

    As future research papers, it should be interesting to compare the obtained results in this work with the ones that can appear from similar studies performed in private universities, in the students of both types of universities and in other people working for the Public Administration.

    Another important study to develop could be the comparison of data obtained in the this study with data collected from firms that operate in our country, as we think some interesting differences can be found.

.06.- References (Return to Index)

    Anderson, R.H. ; Bikson, T.K. ; Law, S. ; Mitchell, M. (1996).- "Universal access to e-mail" feasibility and societal implications", Rand.

    Brown, R.M.; Gatian, M.W.; Hicks, J.O. (1995).- "Strategic Information Systems and Financial Performance", Journal of Management Information Systems, primavera, vol. 11, nº 4, pp. 215-248.

    Clemons, E.; Row, M. (1991).- "Sustaining IT Advantage: The Role of Structural Differences", Management Information Systems Quarterly, Septiembre, pp. 275-292.

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Irene Albarrán Lozano (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Antonio Montero Navarro (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
Carmen de Pablos
Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid
Paseo de los Artilleros s/n
28032 Madrid. España
cpablos@poseidon.fcjs.urjc.es