Interrupting the Workplace: Examining Stressors in an Information Technology Context

This dissertation focuses on the negative and positive outcomes of information and communication technology (ICT) in facilitating and reducing stress. The goals of this dissertation are twofold: 1) to deepen our understanding of how ICT-enabled interruptions influence individuals\u27 episodic stress and 2) to examine whether ICTs may also be used to diminish stress evoked by ICT-enabled interruptions. Originating from psychology, the demands control model (Karasek, 1979) is used as an overarching theoretical lens to explain this technology-based duality, where technology serves as both a problem causing and a solution alleviating stress. The demands control model suggests that stressors have their greatest impact when control is low and demand stressors are high. This dissertation examined three characteristics of demands: the quantity of the ICT-enabled interruptions (quantitative demand), the variability of the ICT-enabled interruptions (demand variability), and the profile of the message (confounding or cooperating). To understand how to mitigate demands\u27 outcomes, we examined three moderators of the demand stressor/strain relationship: ICT-enabled timing control, ICT-enabled method control, and resource control. Applying these factors within the demands control model, we argued that control factors mitigate the effects of high demands on both stress and strain. We tested our model using experimental design by administering two laboratory experiments. In doing so, we adopted a multi-method approach that uncovered how the body psychologically and physiologically reacts to ICT-based stressors. To examine physiological outcomes, we used two advanced tools that non-invasively captured indicators of strain: 1) salivettes captured cortisol and alpha-amylase found in saliva and 2) blood pressure recorders captured blood pressure and pulse rate. Then, we validated Likert-type scales to supplement objective indicators of stress. Our results indicated that strain was apparent when stress results from ICT-enabled stressors. In Experiment 1, we found that ICT-enabled interruption characteristics associated with demands served as stressors and led to perceptual stress (formed of perceptual overload, conflict, and ambiguity). We then found that ICT-enabled timing control negatively moderated the relationships between stressors and stress. Finally, our analysis revealed that perceptual overload positively led to strain, perceptual ambiguity partially led to strain, and perceptual conflict did not lead to strain. In Experiment 2, we found that coping behaviors negatively moderated the relationships between stressors, stress, and strain. Specifically, we found support for overall coping when it came to objective strain; however, we found no support that coping was a moderator with perceptual strain. In terms of specific coping behaviors, we found support that resource control minimized objective strain, while ICT-enabled method control minimized perceived and objective strain. We then tested the simple slopes of the coping interactions with respect to alpha-amylase and found that resource control decreased strain entirely no matter what level of stress the individual felt, while ICT-enabled method control had to be enacted during high stress environments for it to be a coping behavior. Further, if ICT-enabled method control was enacted in low stress environments; it could actually change form and become a stressor. Our results have implications for research, method, and practice. First, we articulated a novel model of interruption-based stress and laid the foundation for understanding how ICT use creates feelings of strain and actual tension in individuals. Second, we were amongst the first to manipulate specific ICT-enabled antecedents of perceptual episodic stress. Third, we extended research on coping behaviors by objectively manipulating the enabling technology and examining the physiological changes that occur from their enactment. Finally, we extended our understanding of the relationship between ICT-enabled interruptions and objective strain

Understanding how the need for popularity, conscientiousness, and the frequency of messaging affects professionalism in written computer-mediated communication

Since the explosion of smartphones into society, more and more people are using smartphones to handle all technology related communication. While it is easier and faster to text than to email, it has given rise to a new language riddled with text-isms. This study focuses on professionalism in written computer-mediated communication, while seeking to understand what causes people to lack professionalism in their messages. We focus on three predictors, the need for popularity among peers, the extent of texting and instant messaging, and how conscientious an individual is. One hundred students completed a survey on professionalism. We found that conscientiousness causes professionalism, while the need for popularity causes one to lack professionalism. We also found that the number of texts one sends does not matter, but the frequency one instant messages causes one to lack professionalism in written computer-mediated communication

RELAX, DON\u27T DO IT: UNDERSTANDING HOW TECHNOLOGY USE AND AWARENESS AFFECT YOUR LIFE ORIENTATION

This study examines whether or not the social norm of using technology alongside with the awareness of one’s environment impacts how optimistically people view the world. We conducted a Mechanical Turk survey designed to measure a person’s technology use, mindful awareness, personality constructs, and life orientation. After analyzing our data in SPSS, we found that, though there is a negative relationship between technology use and mindful awareness, but a positive relationship between mindful awareness and life orientation. This suggests that the more a person uses technology the less mindfully aware they become, but their increased technology use and increased awareness also causes them to having a higher life orientation. This could mean that, as opposed to the popular opinion, technology could either be improving our perceptions of life orientation or biasing the self-reports of one’s awareness. Rationale for the findings is provided and future recommendations are made

Maneuver warfare and the US Navy's new strategic concept.

This thesis examines the extent to which modern maneuver warfare theory is relevant to naval warfare and the US Navy's new strategic concept. This question is important because Naval Doctrine Command, established to translate the strategic vision of'.. From The Sea' into doctrinal reality, seized upon the concept of maneuver warfare in Naval Warfare (Naval Doctrine Publication One) as the most appropriate war fighting style for the naval services. Modern maneuver warfare theory was developed from land warfare experience to solve specific problems of that warfare medium. The current body of literature treating the adoption of maneuver warfare by the naval services does not address the question of its relevance at sea or in the littoral. This thesis develops a framework for determining the relevance of maneuver warfare to the naval services by defining the concept and describing its essential elements. It then examines why the US Army and Marine Corps adopted maneuver warfare in the nineteen-eighties. The thesis concludes that the littoral arena makes the adoption of maneuver warfare for the naval services relevant and necessary.http://archive.org/details/maneuverwarfaren1094532075NAU.S. Navy (U.S.N.) authorApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

To Slack or Not to Slack: Internet Usage in the Classroom

This paper investigates cyber-slacking with Internet technologies in the classroom. Rooted in Lewin\u27s Field Theory, we develop a model linking external forces (i.e., social norms, distraction by other students\u27 cyber-slacking, and awareness of instructor monitoring) and internal forces (i.e., cognitive absorption with Internet technologies and multitasking) to an individual\u27s behavior (i.e., intent to cyber-slack). Using data collected from 451 students, we found social norms, multitasking, and cognitive absorption contributed to the intent to cyber-slack. Further, we found cognitive absorption with Internet technologies mediated the relationship between multitasking and intent to cyber-slack. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for teaching, course design, and research

Slacking and the Internet in the Classroom: A Preliminary Investigation

This paper investigates “slacking with Internet technologies” in a classroom environment. Rooted in the literature on social loafing, we develop a model linking attributes of the context, the individual, and technology to “intention to cyber-slack” and its influence on the effective use of Internet technology. Using data collected from 128 student respondents, we empirically test our model using the Partial Least Squares approach to structural equation modeling. Our analysis found support for many of the relationships in the theoretical model. Specifically, we found that personal innovativeness with IT and multi-tasking with internet applications contribute to cognitive absorption, while cognitive absorption and subjective norms contributed to the intention to cyber-slack. Further, we found that intention to cyber-slack accounted for a large amount of the variance in effective use of Internet technologies. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for research and practice

Techno-Invasion: Are Blackberries Blurring the Line Between Work and Home

This paper investigates the psychological costs of mandating information and communication technology (ICT), specifically Blackberries, in the workplace. Based on the literature on workfamily conflict and technostress, we explore whether Blackberries have caused workers to feel techno-invaded, thus interfering with the boundary between work and family. Using survey data from 76 workers at an eastern organization, we use regression analysis to test whether technoinvasion mediates the relationship between work-family conflict and work exhaustion. Results of the survey confirm that negative attitudes are arising from Blackberry usage. However, supplemental qualitative data counteracts this negative finding, suggesting that positive adjustments can advance the benefits of Blackberry usage while minimizing the costs. We end with implications for research and practice

Interrupting the Workplace: Examining Stressors in an Information Technology Context

Contemporary information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as e-mail and instant messaging create frequent interruptions in the workday, which can potentially reduce business productivity and increase stress. However, we know little about how ICT-enabled interruptions cause stress and how individuals can use ICTs to cope with this stress. Using the transactional model of stress as the theoretical framework, we examines ICTs’ influence on the stress process. We examine two demands that serve as stressors: quantity and content of ICT-enabled interruptions. These stressors influence perceptual stress, which then manifests into physical strain. To understand how to mitigate ICT-enabled stressors’ influence, we examine three forms of control that potentially moderate demand’s influence on the stress process: timing control, method control, and resource control. Timing control serves as a primary control, control that is present at the initial appraisal of an environment, while method control and resource control serve as coping behaviors, behaviors that individuals enact after they feel stressed. In order to rigorously assess the outcome variable, we used a non-invasive salivary technique to measure alpha-amylase, a hormone that is an objective indicator of strain. We used two laboratory experiments to test our model. In Experiment 1, we found that ICT-enabled demands served as stressors and led to perceptual stress and that ICT-enabled timing control negatively moderated the relationships between stressors and stress. In Experiment 2, we found that method control negatively moderated the relationship perceptual conflict had with strain, while increasing perceptual overload’s relationship to strain. Resource control had the opposite finding: it negatively moderated perceptual overload’s relationship with strain, while increasing perceptual conflict relationship with strain. The results provide insight into how ICTs create episodic stress and facilitate our ability to manage it. We conclude the paper with implications for research, methods, and practice

Losing the Battle: Student and Instructor Perspectives on Attention Loss in the Classroom

Because Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) provide many advantages, such as increasing effectiveness and efficiency, they are becoming extremely common in the classroom. However, alongside these advantages, ICTs have also become a big distraction for many students, thus causing students to use ICTs to slack. Through surveying students and interviewing instructors, we examined two different points of view on whether the presence of ICT causes student’s to lose their attention in the class. We found that the presence of ICTs does have a negative effect on student’s attention, and this loss of attention occurs most often during PowerPoint lectures. We conclude with practical implication and suggestions for remedying slacking in the classroom

An Analysis of Alcohol, Mental Health, and Suicide

Suicide rates in Montana, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey vary strongly and encompass the wide range seen across all fifty states in America. Previous research has told us that there is a significant relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder and the ideation, attempt, and completion of suicide. Additionally, most people who are victims of suicide suffer from mental disorders. People use alcohol to cope with mental health and alcohol leads to deteriorating and adverse outcomes in a person’s life. To attempt to better understand the relationship between these variables and why suicide rates differ so widely, an analysis of binge drinking, mentally unhealthy days, and suicide was performed using data from the counties in these states using data from County Health Rankings in 2016 and 2023. We performed a paired t-test to determine that the number of mentally unhealthy days significantly increased in Montana counties from 2016 (3.366) to 2023 (4.425) (t = -32.671, p \u3c .001). Using an ANOVA, binge drinking rates by counties between Montana, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey in 2023 were seen to significantly differ (F3,260 = 294.271, p \u3c .001). Montana and Iowa had a significantly higher rate of binge drinking (24.48%, 23.95%) than the other states tested, and Ohio and New Jersey had a significantly lower rate of binge drinking (19.00%, 20.15%) than the other states tested. Using an ANOVA once more, suicide rates by counties between Montana, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey in 2023 were seen to be significantly different (F3,198 = 88.755, p \u3c .001). Montana had a significantly higher rate of suicide (31.26) than the other states tested, and New Jersey had a significantly lower rate of suicide (8.58) than the other states tested. Through a Pearson correlation, we found that in Ohio in 2023, as the average number of mentally unhealthy days changed, the percentage of excessive drinking weakly and negatively correlated (r = -.346, p \u3c .001). Through an unpaired t-test, the percentage of mentally unhealthy days between Montana (4.43%) and New Jersey (4.46%) counties in 2023 was not seen to be significantly different (t = -.428 p = .670) but the percentage of suicides between Montana (31.26%) and New Jersey (8.85%) counties in 2023 were seen to be significantly different (t = 10.775 p = \u3c .001)