Georeferencing skills and student profile. Results from a multivariate regression model

The currently IT tools provides increased opportunities to organize professional and recreational activities by interactive maps easily accessible for users. An experiment was conducted to understand if the great potential offered by new technologies match with the ability to produce good quality spatial data by users. The goal was to assess whether their knowledge of GIS affected the quality of their mapping activity by online map-based survey with maps as part of on line questionnaire. The attention was paid to university students as target of potential users of these tools, considering different skills acquired during their studies: from theoretical courses of geography, to theoretical and practical courses (dedicated labs) on GIS. The experiment involved more than 200 students of the University of Udine during the academic year 2019-2020. In this framework, a further study was developed investigating factors playing a role in students’ ability to complete the proposed exercises. The analysis was based on a multiple regression model which assumes the number of exercises completed as a dependent variable, and the student profile characteristics (gender, type of student, knowledge of GIS, and other IT skills) as independent variables. The estimated models pointed out both students’ willingness and deep knowledge of GIS as main factors effected the students’ ability to complete the proposed exercises. Fewer effects were associated to their gender and residence.