Psychological type and cognitive style as antecedents of computer attitude components.
Date
1997
Authors
Fuller, Beverly Dawn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The current research report seeks to investigate the relationship between
psychological type/cognitive style, and computer attitude components, namely
computer anxiety. computer confidence, and computer liking, in a sample of
full-time banking employees. Psychological type is assessed by means of the
dichotomous preferences of extraversion-introversion (E-I), thinking-feeling
(T-F) , and sensing-intuition (S-N), based on Jungian personality theory, and
operationalised by the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. The T-F and S-N
preferences, being mental processes 0'1 judging or perceiving, may also be
interpreted as cognitive styles. Pertinent to the current investigation is the
impact that certain demographic variables have on computer attitudes, in
terms of their relationship with, and their ability to predict computer attitudes.
Research results provide moderate support for the proposed hypotheses. No
relationship was found between the extraversion-introversion preference and
computer attitudes. People with a sensing preference exhibited more positive
attitudes towards computers than people with an intuition preference, People
with a thinking preference indicated less computer anxiety and more positive
computer attitudes as a whole than their feeling counterparts. No relationship
was found between the T- F preference and computer liking or confidence.
Age and previous computer experience were found to have the strongest
relationships with computer attitudes, suggesting that these two demographics
could predict computer attitudes more effectively and conclusively than
personality variables. No relationships were found for gender differences and
computer attitudes, contrary to previous research.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree
of Master of Arts.
Keywords
Computers -- Psychological aspects., Bank employees -- Effect of automation on -- South Africa., Typology (Psychology)