Individual differences in computer use
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
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.