Andrew Thatcher

Online flow experiences, problematic Internet use and Internet procrastination

This study explores the theoretical and practical overlap between online procrastination, problematic Internet use, and flow on the Internet. At the theoretical level there is a great deal of interrelatedness between these three concepts (for example, all three concepts deal with the issue of a lack of control over time spent online and acknowledge the distracting and entertaining properties of the Internet); yet, one can also argue that the concepts are theoretically distinct (for example, flow is a total absorption in the work at hand, whereas procrastination is the avoidance of the work at hand). All three concepts have been used to describe either desirable (flow) or undesirable (procrastination and problematic Internet use) states when online. In this study a sample of 1399 Internet users was obtained from a survey placed on a South African online information technology magazine. Using the problematic Internet use questionnaire (PIUQ), the distraction subscale of the online cognition scale (OCS), and a modified version of the Flow scale it was found that there were strong positive relationships between all three variables (the strongest relationship being between problematic Internet use and online procrastination). The results also suggested that procrastination may be a connector between PIU and flow; also that PIU is a connector between procrastination and flow, but that flow is independent of the relationship between PIU and procrastination. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies on problematic Internet use and in particular, whether these relationships are unique to respondents involved in the information technology sector.

Development and psychometric properties of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire

Since the inception of the Internet, research has suggested that a small group of people have a tendency to abuse the Internet and thereby cause damage to their health, their personal life and/or their professional life. Numerous terms, including Internet Addiction Disorder and pathological Internet use, have been used to describe this behaviour and its consequences. More recently, the term, problematic Internet use, has been favoured to describe people who cannot resist engaging with the Internet. This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ). The development of the PIUQ was a two-stage process involving a pilot study on a smaller sample (N = 279) and a validation study on a much larger sample (N = 1795). The results of the validation study provided good evidence for the reliability and construct validity of the PIUQ. The exploratory factor analysis suggests that the PIUQ may consist of three sub-scales (i.e., Online preoccupation, Adverse effects and Social interactions), each with good internal reliability. The discussion provides recommendations for future studies using and validating the PIUQ.

Green ergonomics: definition and scope

This paper demonstrates that the goals of ergonomics (i.e. effectiveness, efficiency, health, safety and usability) are closely aligned with the goals of design for environmental sustainability. In this paper, the term ‘green ergonomics’ is conceptualised to specifically describe ergonomics interventions with a pro-nature emphasis. Green ergonomics is focused on the bi-directional connections between human systems and nature. This involves looking at (1) how ergonomics design and evaluation might be used to conserve, preserve, and restore nature and (2) how ecosystem services might be harnessed to facilitate the improved wellbeing and effectiveness of human systems. The paper proposes the scope of green ergonomics based on these bi-directional relationships in the areas of the design of low resource systems and products, the design of green jobs, and the design for behaviour change. Suggestions for further work in the green ergonomics domain are also made. Practitioner Summary: Given the enormous environmental challenges facing modern industrial society, this paper encourages ergonomics science to embrace a pro-nature understanding of work design and research. This paper sets out the role for green ergonomics based on an appreciation of the human–nature connections that have been integrated with our understanding of ergonomics science and practice.

The Relationship between Lecture Attendance and Academic Performance in an Undergraduate Psychology Class

This article reports on a preliminary investigation into the impact of non-attendance at lectures on the performance of students in a second-year psychology class. Results suggest that the frequency of lecture attendance is significantly, but moderately, related to better academic performance and that ‘always’ attending lectures is the best indicator of academic performance. These results are discussed in relation to understanding lecture non-attendance and improving academic performance.

Small group decision-making in face-to-face and computer-mediated environments: the role of personality

This study investigates the potential influence of personality dimensions on the behaviour and individual processes of small group decision-making in face-to-face and computer-mediated groups. A sample of 90 students was divided into 16 groups, with between four and seven students per group. The groups were randomly assigned to start with one of two different discussion media and one of two different leaderless group discussion problems. Measures of leadership, initiative, judgement, and interpersonal sensitivity were obtained for each subject from two raters working independently using video-tapes of the face-to-face sessions and the logged interactions of the computer-mediated sessions. Further, ‘satisfaction with the process’ and ‘satisfaction with the outcome’ were assessed using a Likert-type scale. Personality was measured using the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI®). Using correlations and repeated measures ANOVAs across the outcome dimensions and the psychological type scores, the findings of this research suggest that personality plays a minor role in differentiating between the media conditions.

Accessibility of ATMS for the functionally illiterate through icon-based interfaces

This study looks at the preliminary development and evaluation of an icon-based ATM interface for use with functionally illiterate bank account holders. In the first part of the study functionally illiterate bank account holders were closely involved in the development of an icon set for the entire ATM withdrawal transaction. This involved target subjects providing descriptive information on possible icons and then evaluating these descriptions using an icon identification test. Although only seven of the 15 icons met the ISO criterion of 67% correct identification, the ‘best’ icons for each instruction were evaluated using one of three prototype interfaces – icon-only, text-only and text-and-icon interface. Comparisons were made between these three interfaces, and a functionally illiterate group and a comparison literate group. Results suggested that within each group there were few significant differences based on the type of interface, although there were significant differences between the groups. Significant differences in the literate group were primarily due to prior exposure to similar ATM interfaces, whereas significant differences in the illiterate group were primarily due to icon comprehensibility.

Defining the South African Internet ‘Addict’: Prevalence and Biographical Profiling of Problematic Internet Users in South Africa

Recent research findings indicate that some users of the Internet spend so much time on the Internet that their personal and/or professional lives suffer. The term Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has been used to describe a psychological disorder where individuals cannot resist engaging with the Internet, although an argument is made to use the term problematic Internet use in this study. This article reports on a descriptive, exploratory study to assess the extent of problematic Internet use in the South African population as well as an exploratory look at the biographical characteristics and Internet behaviours most closely associated with problematic Internet use in the South African environment. The article also explores the associations that users most at risk of problematic Internet use have of the Internet. The results show that the prevalence of problematic Internet use is relatively low (between 1.67% and 5.29%), compared to prevalence rates in other countries. The demographic profile of the South African problematic Internet user was found to be similarto demographic profiles from other international studies (i.e., young, males, who spend a considerable amount of time online, using interactive Internet applications). However, the associations with online activities for the high-risk problematic Internet use group were different when compared to psychological correlates from other studies. The associations indicate that the high-risk group experiences feelings of excitement, friendship and control when online. The implications of these results are discussed in line with previous studies and the theory on problematic Internet use.

A sustainable system of systems approach: a new HFE paradigm

Sustainability issues such as natural resource depletion, pollution and poor working conditions have no geographical boundaries in our interconnected world. To address these issues requires a paradigm shift within human factors and ergonomics (HFE), to think beyond a bounded, linear model understanding towards a broader systems framework. For this reason, we introduce a sustainable system of systems model that integrates the current hierarchical conceptualisation of possible interventions (i.e. micro-, meso- and macro-ergonomics) with important concepts from the sustainability literature, including the triple bottom line approach and the notion of time frames. Two practical examples from the HFE literature are presented to illustrate the model. The implications of this paradigm shift for HFE researchers and practitioners are discussed and include the long-term sustainability of the HFE community and comprehensive solutions to problems that consider the emergent issues that arise from this interconnected world. Practitioner Summary: A sustainable world requires a broader systems thinking than that which currently exists in ergonomics. This study proposes a sustainable system of systems model that incorporates ideas from the ecological sciences, notably a nested hierarchy of systems and a hierarchical time dimension. The implications for sustainable design and the sustainability of the HFE community are considered.

Problematic Internet Use among Information Technology Workers in South Africa

This exploratory study looks at the prevalence and correlates of problematic Internet use (PIU) in South African technology workers (N = 630) and other workers (N = 769). The results indicated that the prevalence of PIU in this sample was higher in the IT group (3.81%) than the non-IT group (1.91%), both considerably lower than in other countries. In both groups, respondents were more likely to have higher PIU scores if they were younger and male, if they spent a large amount of time online, and if they used the interactive functions of the Internet. The best predictors of PIU in both groups were online procrastination, online flow experiences, spending a long period of time online in a single session, and chatting online.

Human factors for a sustainable future.

Current human activities are seriously eroding the ability of natural and social systems to cope. Clearly we cannot continue along our current path without seriously damaging our own ability to survive as a species. This problem is usually framed as one of sustainability. As concerned professionals, citizens, and humans there is a strong collective will to address what we see as a failure to protect the natural and social environments that supports us. While acknowledging that we cannot do this alone, human factors and ergonomics needs to apply its relevant skills and knowledge to assist where it can in addressing the commonly identified problem areas. These problems include pollution, climate change, renewable energy, land transformation, and social unrest amongst numerous other emerging global problems. The issue of sustainability raises two fundamental questions for human factors and ergonomics: which system requires sustaining and what length of time is considered sustainable? In this paper we apply Wilson (2014) parent-sibling-child model to understanding what is required of an HFE sustainability response. This model is used to frame the papers that appear in this Special Issue.