Beliefs about computer-mediated information services among college students: An exploratory study
✍ Scribed by David J Atkin
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 777 KB
- Volume
- 12
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0736-5853
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Few prototypical media have been as widely researched as the computer during its early stages of development. But, in gaining a better understanding of this adoption dynamic, it is useful to assess why online services have generated so little interest to date. The purpose of this study is to assess psychological dimensions of interest and apprehension concerning the use of computer-mediated communication services. Perspectives on Diffusion Theory, technology needs, and apprehension are applied to examine attitudes toward the impact of computer information services on society. The large degree of variance attributable to computer utility measures implies a new set of attitudinal variables to supplement demographics and technology adoption measures. Implications of study findings are discussed.
Computer-mediated communication (CMC) services enhance one's ability to gather, process, filter, organize, and disseminate information. Pioneer online information services were first marketed under the rubric of videotext during the mid-1980s. Although few prototypical media have been as widely researched as videotext (e.g., Ettema, 1984aEttema, , 1984bEttema, , 1989;;Dozier & Rice, 1984;Mayer, 1986), the medium did not generate expected interest levels. In particular, the removal of Knight-Ridder's Viewtron and Times-Mirror's Gateway service in 1986 struck some as a death knell for electronic text modalities (Booker, 1988).
Even so, commentators (e.g., Zerbinos, 1990) suggest that the steady growth of online services such as Dow Jones, Compuserve, and Prodigy-now in 5% of American Homes -assures a future role for consumer CMC systems. Lin ( 1994) underscores the significance of these online services in the emerging information economy, where daily tasks may be "computerized" through the "integrated systems digital network" (ISDN)-voice, video, and data networks:
ISDN may add features such as home utility management (e.g. meter reading), telephone, cable television, pay-per-view, video libraries, radio programs and electronic newspapers, magazines and books to serve users. It may also broaden the "home work" scope to make telecommuting from home a viable option. (p. 111