Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA.
Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
J Appl Gerontol. 2021 May;40(5):541-546. doi: 10.1177/0733464820935000. Epub 2020 Jul 4.
Interacting with information communication technologies (ICTs) often requires proficiency with wireless networks. For older adults especially, lacking proficiency can lock them out of the many benefits afforded by these devices. In an older adult sample ( = 203), we assessed reliability and validated a set of tools to assess wireless network proficiency: the Wireless Network Proficiency Questionnaire (WNPQ; 19 questions) and a short-form (WNPQ-8; eight questions). The WNPQ and WNPQ-8 were found to be reliable and valid, positively related to computer proficiency ( = .63 for both) and mobile device proficiency ( = .75, = .74), and negatively related to age ( = -.21, = -.23). WNPQ scores predicted whether participants could report their Wi-Fi credentials (odd ratio = 1.17-1.73). We conclude that the WNPQ may serve as a useful tool for facilitating wireless network training and assessing proficiency in research.
与信息通信技术（ICT）互动通常需要精通无线网络。对于老年人来说，缺乏这方面的能力可能会使他们无法享受到这些设备带来的诸多好处。在一项老年人群体样本（n=203）中，我们评估了一套评估无线网络能力的工具的可靠性和有效性：无线网络能力问卷（WNPQ；19 个问题）和一个简短形式（WNPQ-8；8 个问题）。结果发现 WNPQ 和 WNPQ-8 具有可靠性和有效性，与计算机能力（两者均为 r=.63）和移动设备能力（r=.75，r=.74）呈正相关，与年龄呈负相关（r=-.21，r=-.23）。WNPQ 得分可以预测参与者是否能够报告他们的 Wi-Fi 凭证（优势比=1.17-1.73）。我们得出结论，WNPQ 可能成为促进无线网络培训和评估研究中能力的有用工具。
