www.ijird.com May, 2018 Vol 7 Issue 5 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DOI No. : 10.24940/ijird/2018/v7/i5/MAY18075 Page 232 Dimensions of Computer-Based Internet Technology Technophobia among Agricultural Extension Personnel in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 1. Introduction With the advent of the technology, computer and related technologies, technophobia emerged. The word technophobia is derived from Greek Techne meaning arts, skill or craft and Phobos, meaning fear or aversion. It is a complex interplay of behavioural, emotional and attitudinal components to the fear of computer and complex technologies (Wang, Shu and Tu 2008, and Sami and Pangannaiah 2006). It is the constant and persistent fear of technology and in greater depth; it is the feeling of severe anxiety associated with using anything technologically complex and the anxiety associated with the perceived effects of advanced technology (Ben-Jacob and Liebman, 2009 and Ha, Tom Gisli, 2011). Rheingold (2002) identified the causes of technophobia to include: perception of the technology in terms of the complexity of the technology; demographic variation that shows that younger people adopt new technologies better than older generations and the belief that with new technology, people might become nervous due to the changes and disruptions it may introduce into their lives. The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in all fields of human endeavour came with dimensions of technophobia. Ha et.al (2011) observed that the development of the internet-based technologies and sophisticated mobile phones will inevitably lead to more people becoming technophobic. The growing concern for development practitioners is the drive to eradicate the scourges of poverty; diseases, illiteracy and food insecurity through the ISSN 2278 – 0211 (Online) Iniobong A. Akpabio Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Nigeria Joan E. Cyril Ph.D. Candidate, Community and Social Development Project in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Emem B. Inyang Consultant, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Nigeria Dr. Unyime R. Etuk Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, Nigeria Abstract: The study was carried out to examine the dimensions of Computer-Based Internet Technology (CBIT) technophobia among extension personnel in Akwa Ibom State. Specifically, it identified respondents: personal characteristics; incidence of CBIT technophobia, level of CBIT technophobia and identified factors influencing CBIT technophobia. The study hypotheses tested: the relationship between personal characteristics and the levels of CBIT technophobia and the difference in CBIT technophobia between Field Extension Personnel (FEP) and Supervisory Extension Personnel (SEP). Simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents. Data was generated from primary source through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings show that 57.8 % of the respondents were male, 91.7% were married and their mean age was 43 years. Also, while 79.5% respondents constituted FEP, 64.4% were graduates and the mean household size was six (6). Mean monthly income of respondents was revealed to be N73, 108.00, while 62.8% had no formal computer training. It was also revealed that 83. 9 % respondents had moderate CBIT technophobia, while predisposing factors to CBIT technophobia were revealed to encompass; human, operational, learning anxiety, lack of exposure and experience, technology, environment and self –efficacy indices. Hypotheses revealed that educational level influenced CBIT technophobia, although no significant difference was observed between FEP and SEP respondents with regard to CBIT technophobia. The study concluded that level of education influences CBIT technophobia. It was recommended that training and exposure to the use of CBIT should be given to extension personnel to ameliorate the effect of CBIT technophobia. Keywords: Technophobia, computer-based internet technology, field extension personnel, supervisory extension personnel