Toward an understanding of computers and individual differences
Date
1991
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effects of computer use level and gender in relation to individual characteristics and personality. Subjects were given a computerized Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) followed by a questionnaire on individual differences in personal computing and electronic communication. Subjects were instructed to make up and type directly onto the computer a story regarding the image they saw. They were then told to answer the computer skill questions that followed. These results to the questionnaire largely confirm our hypothesis that heavy users would rate themselves significantly higher in computer skill, than medium and low users. Results were also obtained by coding stories written in response to TAT pictures depicting situations of both affiliation as well . as achievement as defined by Gilligan (1982). The coding results of the TAT stories (N=63) indicated that male subjects were more likely to write stories involving a problematic relationship between two characters. A higher incidence of stories involving problematic computer usage occurred when the character at the computer was male. Level of computer aptitude was also apparent through coding of the story content. Subjects (N=45) were also given a Myers-Briggs Questionnaire although significant personality characteristics were not determined due to such a small subject population. Different aspects of computer users and nonusers are explored as important factors for rates of participation in computer related activities.