Abstract:

The growing integration of digital technologies into daily life has positioned individuals’ technological self-efficacy as a key determinant of technology use. Technological self-efficacy refers to individuals’ perceived capability to successfully navigate and use digital technologies. This belief influences motivation, learning processes, and coping with technological challenges. University students represent a particularly relevant population, as they frequently encounter emerging technologies in both their academic and social lives.

This study examined university students’ perceptions of technological self-efficacy toward emerging digital technologies and the factors shaping these perceptions. The research was conducted as part of a large-scale project. A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted to gain insight into students’ lived experiences. The participants (N = 34) were university students studying at different universities across Türkiye. Of the participants, 26 were female and 8 were male, with a mean age of 20.8 years.Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with MAXQDA 24 software. To enhance reliability, two researchers conducted the coding process independently, resulting in an inter-coder agreement of 82.5%.

The findings revealed three main themes related to technological self-efficacy:
(1) independent technology use,
(2) technology use with support from others, and
(3) personal data protection.

Most participants reported that they were able to learn and use new technologies and were open to seeking help when needed. These findings are consistent with the core components of Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory. However, concerns regarding the security and privacy of personal data in digital environments emerged as an important factor influencing perceptions of technological self-efficacy.

Overall, the findings indicate that technological self-efficacy is not limited to technical skills alone but represents a multidimensional construct that should be addressed in conjunction with social support mechanisms and digital security awareness. The study offers important implications for the development of technological competencies in higher education.

Acknowledgement:
-This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) with project number 223K502. We would like to thank TÜBİTAK for its support of the project.

Keywords:

Technological Self-Efficacy, University Students, Qualitative Research.