An Analysis of the Use of Social Processes During Computer Use

This study investigated the claim that people use social processes relating to other humans when interacting with computers. A laboratory study (n = 38) manipulated two team factors, identity and interdependence, and a stereotype activation effect to two labels, generalist and specialist. Subjects for this study were military members or civilians working for the military. The results show that none of the subjects reported being influenced by team or stereotype manipulations as given in self-reports. Incongruent to these findings, the behavioral data demonstrated that subjects were influenced by stereotype labels. There were no interaction effects between team factors and stereotype labels found in either self-reported data or behavioral data.