Browsing by Subject "Computer users -- Psychology"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Individual differences in computer use
    (1991) Weiss, Shana; Davis, Douglas A., 1943-
    Computer users have often been stereotyped as asocial, technologically-oriented people. However, there is a dearth of research defining this subgroup, and no attempts have been made to definitively distinguish between computer "addicts" and noncomputer users. This study used a variety of statistical and projective measures to define differences between computer users. Standard TAT instructions were given to sixty-three college students who wrote stories about one of two randomly assigned pictures. Each picture had two figures, one male and one female, with one of the two seated at a computer. Stories were coded for topics concerning computers, for interpersonal relationships, and for story structures. Significant results were found for several of these coding questions when compared with level of computer use and gender of subject. A questionnaire asking for self-reports in various areas of computer use confirmed subject selection categories and indicated that there are indeed differences in computer users. A Myers Briggs personality test was used in an attempt to divide computer users and non-users into a dichotomy that separated people out based on different personality characteristics. The results of this part of the study were inconclusive. Though results overall were unable to define a specific "computer personality," it is clear that definite differences exist among heavy and light, and male and female computer users.
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    No More Pencils, No More Books: A Study Concerning the Effects of Developmental Level and Individual Differences on Computer Ability of Elementary School Students
    (1995) Bickham, David; Davis, Douglas A., 1943-
    The purpose of this study was to relate the process of attribution of computer literacy and the factors affecting it to Piaget's developmental stage model and other relating theories. Sixty-six elementary school subjects completed a set of tasks designed to access their mastery of a graphically oriented computer operating system as well as specific writing and drawing programs. Subjects also responded to questions concerning their home computer experience and their understanding of computer processes. Results show that performance on classroom computer tasks was strongly related to grade, frequency of home use, and favorite subject in school. When only subjects in the older grades were considered, gender was found to be a strong determiner of computer ability. The distribution of scores across grade suggests a computer literacy stage model which parallels Piaget's developmental levels. Implications of these results on educational use of computers are discussed.
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    Sex Differences in Computing
    (1989) Meyerhardt, Joyce; Davis, Douglas A., 1943-
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    The Computer, Sex, and Personality
    (1991) Hauerwas, Adam; Davis, Douglas A., 1943-
    The interrelationships between a hierarchical level of computer use, the sex of the subject population, and personality variables were investigated in an attempt to better understand how individuals approach and use computers differently. Level of use was determined according to the use or non-use of Haverford College's computer system and socially-oriented bulletin board software on that computer. There were several significant results for level of use on feelings of computer skill and affect regarding experience, and sex differences regarding the frequency of use and perception of skill for certain types of software. In addition, the perceived use of a computer in a TAT story was dependent upon level of computer use. Several significant sex differences were found for personality variables, and relationships with level of computer use are considered.
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    When your computer is your closest friend: A study of the Computer of the Nineties
    (1991) Tagliacozzo, Amy; Davis, Douglas A., 1943-
    This study explains why some people are computer oriented, and why others are not. We investigated who uses computers for word processing, game playing, and communication (electronic mail and bulletin boards) . The major focus of our study was the computer as a means of communication. Issues leading up to the experienced and obvious gender stratification concerning computers in our society are addressed, and explanations are offered for its origin. The VAX computer system of Haverford College was used as the basis for the major part of this study. Students who use the system at varying levels (none to high) were given computer experience questionnaires, Myers Briggs personality assessment questionnaires, and were asked to respond to TAT images. Significant differences were found concerning word processing, game playing, and several of the TAT coding questions (whether there was a relationship present, if there was a problem in the relationship, and whether or not there were signs of virtual substance dependency.) It was found that gender played a role in how pictures of a possible relationship scenario was seen, and that level of computer use played a role in several computer experience questions and the description of the TAT picture.