Lectio Praecursoria
•Download as PPT, PDF•
1 like•573 views
In this introductory lecture titled, "conceptualising and measuring human anxiety on the Internet" the audience is explained what new or interesting the dissertation has to offer and how it is connected to the human-computer interaction fields and to the society in general.
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (8)
Similar to Lectio Praecursoria
Similar to Lectio Praecursoria (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Lectio Praecursoria
- 1. Conceptualizing and Measuring Human Anxiety on the Internet Lectio Praecursoria Lappeenranta University of Technology Department of Computer Science Lappeenranta, June 19, 2014 Santosh Kalwar
- 2. Human-Computer Interaction Source: http://www.humancomputerinteraction.nl 2
- 3. Recent News Reports 1/2 3
- 4. Recent News Reports 2/2 • 40 million people in the US alone suffer from Anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health • A recent preliminary study (Lin et al., 2012) suggests that web addicts have brain changes similar to those of people hooked on drugs or alcohol. 4
- 5. Motivation − Current web user interfaces lack appropriate platform for encompassing anxiety factors. − An anxiety on the Internet is predominant in today’s ever connected world and it has become a concern in today’s society. − The Internet anxiety has been defined as feeling of stress and anxiousness experienced by users while interacting with the Internet contents. 5
- 6. Human Anxiety • Anxiety is defined as mental health construct that can either acts as enabler for boosting performance or can act as disabler by imposing negative emotions and feelings. • The goal is to understand and measure the following social aspects of information systems and how HCI can ameliorate these aspects: • Anxiety (FFF) • Internet Anxiety • Types, measures etc. • Scales • Empirical validation • Cultural attributes • Psycho-physiological elements • FeelCalc Source: http://www.stagesofshock.com/Fight_Flight_Freeze_Faint/index.html 6
- 7. Science of Exploration Anxiety can take many forms depending on the science of exploration. • In positive psychology (Norman, 2008), an anxiety is referred to as a mental state that results from difficulty in solving problems as a result of insufficient skills (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). • In medicine, an anxiety is interpreted as a state having medical codes of ICD-9 Diagnosis Code 300.01. • In social anxiety, anxiety can occur because of discomfort caused by interaction with strangers and/or feelings of awkwardness experienced in groups. • In test anxiety, the Yerkes-Dodson law implies that it is necessary to have anxiety in order to complete a task (exam, performance, competitive task) (Teigen, 1994; Yerkes, 1908). 7
- 9. Internet Anxiety (IA) − In the field of Computing and HCI, “Internet anxiety” is defined as a feeling generated by the use of web technologies. (Ekizoglu, 2010) suggests that lack of experience on new applications and technologies induces anxiety. − Internet anxiety might by “evoked by the use of web-enabled technologies” (Thatcher et al., 2007) 9
- 10. IA Research Gaps − (Presno, 1998) utilized four types of Internet anxiety and stated that “further studies in the new area of Internet anxiety” are needed. − (Presno, 1998)’s study was general in nature using qualitative research methodology with 21 and 17 student participants in an Internet class. − No symptoms are mentioned for university students with regards to the Internet anxiety phenomenon (Shamo, 2001). − The investigation (Shamo, 2001) lacked rigorous iterative validation with no new scale proposed or developed. 10
- 11. Internet Anxiety “Although many of the strategies that are meant to reduce computer anxiety may be applicable to Internet anxiety, there is still a point where the two types of anxiety diverge. The one-of-kind virtual world of the Internet is a place without boundaries and a space without a core that will cause users to experience different kinds of emotions, some of which will be more negative than positive. For this reason, it will be important in the future to address a more specific form of computer anxiety - Internet anxiety.” (Presno, 1998), pg. 151 11
- 12. Internet Anxiety Types 1. Internet Terminology Anxiety (ITA) is an anxiety caused by: “Internet terminologies,” e.g., technical jargon, words, phrases, acronyms, and vocabulary terms on the Internet (Presno, 1998). 2. Internet Time-Delay Anxiety (ITDA) is an anxiety caused by: “the time delay in accessing content,” e.g., meeting deadlines, busy signals, network delays, slowness on the Internet (Jacko et al., 2000). 3. General Internet Failure Anxiety (GIFA) is an anxiety caused by: “Internet connection failure,” e.g., lack of network connection, abrupt disconnection on the Internet. 4. Usage Anxiety (UA) is an anxiety caused by: “excessive use of Internet content,” e.g., more than 5 hrs of uninterrupted browsing on the Internet. 5. Experience Anxiety (EA) is an anxiety caused by: “experience of poor or harmful content on the Internet,” e.g., popular addictive games (Nomura and Goto, 2012), adult content, apps or services on the Internet. 6. Environment and Attraction Anxiety (EEA) is an anxiety caused by: “eye-catching applications and interfaces on the Internet,” e.g., pop-ups, ads on the Internet. 7. Net Search Anxiety (NSA) is an anxiety caused by: “limitations in finding the desired search results on the Internet,” e.g., limitation and narrow search results on the Internet. 12
- 13. Research Question − Internet anxiety is very complex and covers multidisciplinary research domain. − The aim of this study is to conceptualize, and measure Internet anxiety. − Therefore, the principle focus of the thesis is based on conceptualizing human behavior on the Internet and by building technical enablers (e.g. self-assessment tool) in order to be able to measure Internet anxieties. − The main research question in this thesis is: How to conceptualize and measure human anxiety on the Internet? 13
- 14. Study Setup 14
- 15. Phase I (carried out to pilot study, prototyping, designing, analyzing etc. with small sample sizes) Phase II Verify/validate studies of phase I 15
- 16. Results 1/2 − The behavior of humans on the Internet shows different types of anxieties. − Users with different cultural backgrounds will behave differently on the Internet. − A self-assessment tool may be used to measure Internet anxiety. − Gender differences in use of Internet activities persist. − Social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter and others) are increasingly difficult based on gender. − Internet usage and age demographic effects on Internet anxiety. − Among the survey respondents more than half spend approximately 1-5 hr. daily online. 16
- 17. Results: filling research gaps 2/2 − Comparatively, this work empirically validated three new IA types and the most common IA types were identified. − The study found general symptoms associated with web usage. − Two novel scales are developed that measure Internet anxiety better than any pre-existing scales. − Previous work’s did not develop any tools or replicated Internet anxiety research. But, this work partly replicates (Joiner et al., 2005, 2007, 2012). 17
- 18. Conclusions − This thesis describes conceptualization and capability to measure levels of Internet anxieties − For understanding anxieties a conceptualization and capability to measure levels of Internet anxieties is needed. − Based on this understanding a conceptual framework was built − Investigations (studies) using literature, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were carried out. − Two types of measurement scales (MIAS, SAS) were derived where SAS was found to be better than previous IAS; MIAS was also better than existing IAS of (Joiner et al., 2007) − As a proof-of-concept, implementation of the three sets of tools (MyAnxiety, Intelligentia and MyIAControl App) were done. 18
- 19. Contributions of the Thesis − This is the first study to specifically conceptualize and measure participants’ Internet anxiety using different methods and interdisciplinary literature. − A novel approach for measuring Internet anxiety using Modified Internet Anxiety Scale (MIAS) and a self-assessment scale (SAS) on the Internet. − A logical conceptual framework for assessing human anxiety on the Internet in order to conceptualize and measure human anxiety. − A formal development of measuring affective feelings of users (an introduction of FeelCalc etc.) − Various approach is proposed for types of Internet anxieties experienced. − A formal development of the concepts of quantifying cultural attributes in understanding human behavior on the Internet. − Development of self-assessment scale, typologies, and formal categorization of Internet anxiety (types) has not been studied earlier. 19
- 20. Recommendations − The authors recommends an active individual initiative regarding social responsibility of web usage. − HCI specialists should take an active role towards a better quality of life that promote social well being and also combat the problems associated with the information age. − More diverse tools, apps to engage user online and mitigate their level of Internet anxieties. − In future, one could also study anxiety levels in human-robot interaction. 20
- 21. Internet Time-Delay Anxiety? Source: Larry Rosen: How Technology Rewires Brains and How We Can Best Teach Our Young Learners 21
Editor's Notes
- Arvoisa kustos, arvoisa vastaväittäjä, arvoisat kuulijat! Honorable Custos, Honorable Opponent, Ladies and Gentlemen! Slide 1, title, start I will now present to you my academic story. Like every story, my story also begins with the tittle, which is called: “Conceptualizing and measuring human anxiety on the Internet”. Every story has a field or a category. Similarly, this story belongs to the field of HCI or human-computer interaction.
- In general, HCI - which is a subfield of computer science that lies in the midst of several other related disciplines or interdisciplinary fields e.g., psychology, sociology, artificial intelligence, and many others. The objective of HCI or human-computer interaction is to conceptualize, measure, design, interactive technologies that are easy to use, effective, and that give pleasurable experience for users. The impact of HCI lies in making computer/internet usage less stressful in daily life and for the users. So in this thesis, various concepts are formed and measurable instruments are devised to mitigate anxiety in users based on current research on this field.
- The dramatic surge in communication technologies, especially Internet services, countless contents, and rapidly growing social media platforms has a social impact on the way our generation interacts. A participant in one of such studies once said that she barely knew how she made a friend before the Internet. And she also barely knew how her thoughts were well formed before the Twitter. Or could she ever imagine the life without the Internet. The Internet is where younger generation Y lives… Let us review some recent news reports. For example, there are two news reports here that states: “social media is causing anxiety,” and “is the Internet making us crazy” According to the first news report (i.e. on left), a recent study released by nonprofit Anxiety UK, over 51 percent of those said social media sites e.g., Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites had changed their lives – it’s not been for the better. Similarly, another news report by Tony Dokoupil (on right) argues that the current incarnation of the Internet—portable, social, accelerated, and all-pervasive—may be making us not just dumber or lonelier but more depressed and anxious...Our digitized minds can scan like those of drug addicts, and normal people are breaking down in sad and seemingly new ways.
- Nowadays even talking to people on the bus or train feels awkward because everyone has their iPods/iPhones or smartphones on and headphones in, the more wired we are the less we are connected to each other, says renowned psychologist Larry Rosen (a leading expert in this field). Just yesterday I received an email from Prof. Rosen where he said that they have expanded on our idea of Internet anxiety. Anyway, let’s jump to some facts: according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect 40 million people in the US alone. Study by Lin et al., suggest that web addicts have the brain changes similar to those hooked on drugs or alcohol. (this also complements the previous news reports). The study shows a negative correlation where the factor correlates negatively with the Young’s Internet addiction scale (YIAS). For the treatment of anxiety disorders, a psychiatric drug called alprazolam—also called Xanax is often used, and it has been estimated that prescriptions for this drug reached 46.3 million in 2010.
- From previous slides, we now understand that anxiety is a serious mental health construct that can either acts as enabler for boosting performance or can act as disabler by imposing negative emotions and feelings. From previous slides, we also understand that an anxiety on the Internet is predominant in today’s ever-connected world and it has become a concern in today’s society. So the motivation for this PhD project is: current web user interfaces lack the appropriate platform for encompassing anxiety factors, and as anxiety is dominant in today’s connected world, it is important to focus on Internet anxieties.
- As anxiety is a broad concept and is subject of study by many disciplines, this thesis however is focused only on “Internet anxiety” research and no other forms or anxiety. There are many variants of anxiety, however. For example, animal anxiety, plant anxiety, etc. There is also anxiety related to use of computers and the Internet. In this thesis, only anxiety that is related with “humans” or “users” of the web is studied. Thus, the goal is to understand and measure the following social aspects of information systems and how HCI can ameliorate these aspects: Anxiety (FFF), Internet Anxiety, Types, measures etc., Scales, Empirical validation and as a sidetrack: quantify cultural attributes, psycho-physiological elements, and FeelCalc. Here FFF means, flight/fight/freeze response coined by Walter Cannon the term fight or flight is used to describe an animal's response to threats. As shown in the figure, either users have to fights with anxiety, or flight with anxiety (i.e. runaway from anxiety inducing circumstance/situations) or freeze (i.e. do not respond to threatening situations at all). Users’ fear of technology has been defined as “technophobia” or the “fear of technology” (Brosnan, 1998b). Many formal definitions of anxiety exist in popular dictionaries, and the word is widely used in both the medical or psychological sense and the general sense. In Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage: An Account of Recent Researches into the Function of Emotional Excitement
- Anxiety can take many forms depending on the science of exploration. In positive psychology (Norman, 2008), an anxiety is called a mental state that results from difficulty in solving problems because of insufficient skills (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). (Watson et al., 1988) proposed emotional scale measurement based on positive affect and negative affect scales as an approach for assessing users’feelings during a specific time frame. In social anxiety, anxiety can occur because of discomfort caused by interaction with strangers and feelings of awkwardness experienced in groups. In test anxiety, the Yerkes-Dodson law implies that it is necessary to have anxiety to complete a task (exam, performance, competitive task) (Teigen, 1994; Yerkes, 1908). In medicine, an anxiety is interpreted as a state having medical codes of ICD-9 Diagnosis Code 300.01. Human beings experience kinds of anxiety in their daily lives regarding the use of technology. According to (Ellis, 1995; Sahin and Korkmaz, 2011), anxiety can be categorized into three different types: 1. Personality-originated anxiety. Personality-originated anxiety occurs because of a user’s personality and is part of the user’s human personality. 2. Circumstance-originated anxiety. Circumstance-originated anxiety occurs because of certain circumstances at a certain time. 3. Incident-originated anxiety. Incident-originated anxiety occurs because of apparent incidents. Users can experience various categories of anxiety depending upon a “lack of social skills and the situation affecting individuals’ life and accomplishments (Sahin and Korkmaz, 2011).”
- As a part of multidisciplinary field, anxiety touches many disciplines as well. For example, it lies in the midst of the Internet, psychology, human-internet interaction, and HCI. There is a phenomenon less explored in this area entitled: “Internet anxiety” based on Internet anxiety literature. There are also social implications of using the Internet. Of course, many pundits of Internet anxiety do not fully argue against the Internet. Therefore, the context of this thesis is to investigate whether Internet anxiety can be conceptualized and measured.
- So what is this phenomenon called Internet anxiety? “Internet anxiety” is defined as a feeling generated by the use of web technologies. (Ekizoglu, 2010) suggests that lack of experience on new applications and technology induces anxiety. Internet anxiety might also be “evoked by the use of web-enabled technologies” (Thatcher et al., 2007) Furthermore, there is no clear, generally accepted definition of the term “Internet anxiety”. Therefore, we define “Internet anxiety” - a feeling of worries, nervousness, or unease while using or considering the use of the Internet or its application or services.
- (Presno, 1998) utilized four types of Internet anxiety and stated that “further studies in the new area of Internet anxiety” are needed. (Presno, 1998)’s study was general in nature using qualitative research methodology with 21 and 17 student participants in an Internet class. No symptoms are mentioned for university students with regards to the Internet anxiety phenomenon (Shamo, 2001). The investigation (Shamo, 2001) lacked rigorous iterative validation with no new scale proposed or developed.
- As I was reading a foundational journal paper by Presno, I found a very interesting paragraph that stated the following: “Although many of the strategies that are meant to reduce computer anxiety may be applicable to Internet anxiety, there is still a point where the two types of anxiety diverge. The one-of-kind virtual world of the Internet is a place without boundaries and a space without a core that will cause users to experience different kinds of emotions, some of which will be more negative than positive. For this reason, it will be important in the future to address a more specific form of computer anxiety - Internet anxiety.” (Presno, 1998), pg. 151 This quoted paragraph clearly states that there are two different types of anxiety - computer anxiety, and the Internet anxiety. Although they look very similar; however, there is a point there they diverge and are considered more negative than positive. Presno further suggested for future work on Internet anxiety; thus, this thesis is born from published findings of Presno, Shamo, and others.
- There are many types of Internet anxiety. Following seven types of IA is explored in depth in this thesis. They are conceptualized and measured. Let us briefly look each of the definition with examples of IA types. Internet Terminology Anxiety (ITA) is an anxiety caused by: “Internet terminologies,” e.g., technical jargon, words, phrases, acronyms, and vocabulary terms on the Internet (Presno, 1998). Internet Time-Delay Anxiety (ITDA) is an anxiety caused by: “the time delay in accessing content,” e.g., meeting deadlines, busy signals, network delays, slowness on the Internet (Jacko et al., 2000). General Internet Failure Anxiety (GIFA) is an anxiety caused by: “Internet connection failure,” e.g., lack of network connection, abrupt disconnection on the Internet. Usage Anxiety (UA) is an anxiety caused by: “excessive use of Internet content,” e.g., more than 5 hrs of uninterrupted browsing on the Internet. Experience Anxiety (EA) is an anxiety caused by: “experience of poor or harmful content on the Internet,” e.g., popular addictive games (Nomura and Goto, 2012), adult content, apps or services on the Internet. Environment and Attraction Anxiety (EEA) is an anxiety caused by: “eye-catching applications and interfaces on the Internet,” e.g., pop-ups, ads on the Internet. Net Search Anxiety (NSA) is an anxiety caused by: “limitations in finding the desired search results on the Internet,” e.g., limitation and narrow search results on the Internet.
- The aim of this study is to conceptualize, and measure Internet anxiety. Therefore, the principle focus of the thesis is based on conceptualizing human behavior on the Internet and by building technical enablers (e.g. self-assessment tool) in order to be able to measure Internet anxieties. The main research question in this thesis is: How to conceptualize and measure human anxiety on the Internet? In particular, there is two major part of my thesis. First is conceptualization and second is measurement. In conceptualization part, I am looking at how we can form a concept in understanding human anxiety or more specifically, Internet anxiety, and whether Internet anxiety can be conceptualized? And in the second part, I am looking at how we can measure Internet anxiety.
- These sub-questions draw our attention to problems associated with types of anxieties on the Internet. The research was initiated with a small sample size and using conceptual- analytical research, mainly descriptive and explanatory research. Data were gathered using questionnaires, structured and semi-structured interviews, opinion polls and surveys. Quantitative statistical analysis is used to analyze and evaluate the data. The thesis adopts mixed research methods (Niglas, 2004, 2008). The thesis consists of a broad range of questions resulting in several related sub-questions. e.g., SQ1-8. Study 1 is associated with sub-question 1 where interview method is used with small sample size to determine link between preexisting scales and IA scale. Similarly, study 8 is conducted with large sample of 385 participants to verify and validate the other smaller studies.
- In this table, I present to you eight sub-question (divided the principal research question), data gathered, sample size, method used, and studies conducted. Eight sub-questions and eight smaller studies divided into two phases. First, phase I is for carried out to pilot study, prototyping, designing, analyzing etc. with small sample sizes… Second phase is for Verify/validate studies of phase I. For an answer to sub-question 1, data was gathered by interviewing the users and using structured and semi-structured interviews, think-aloud (Davey, 1983) and observational techniques (through audio and visual inspection). To answer sub-question 2, data were gathered by giving tasks to users representing two different cultural backgrounds. To find answers to sub-question 3, a variety of research methods was required. An unbiased observer was involved in the study assisting in recording users’ actions/reactions by a note-taking mechanism. To answer sub-question 4, a survey study to assist in creating a self-assessment tool was carried out based on literature review of possible Internet anxiety scales. To answer sub-question 5, introducing a proposition for the integration of task performance, task and user characteristics. To answer sub-question 6, an existing theoretical framework for assessing human anxiety on the Internet was studied and a user interface tool named, “MyAnxiety,” was created. In addition, a conceptual framework was devised to validate the types of anxieties identified. To answer sub-question 7, a questionnaire was devised. Additionally, a tool named “Intelligentsia,” was created and tested. For sub-question 8, a large survey was conducted with an existing Internet anxiety scale (Joiner et al., 2005) and a new Modified Internet Anxiety Scale (MIAS) was developed.
- Here are some of the results found from studies conducted. The behavior of humans on the Internet shows different types of anxieties. Users with different cultural backgrounds will behave differently on the Internet. A self-assessment tool may be used to measure Internet anxiety. Gender differences in use of Internet activities persist. Social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter and others) are increasingly difficult based on gender. Internet usage and age demographic effects on Internet anxiety. Among the survey respondents more than half spend approximately 1-5 hr. daily online.
- Previous studies of (Joiner et al., 2012; Presno, 1998; Thatcher et al., 2007) have not: a) conceptualized and measured human behavior on the Internet; b) studied “anxiety” as a web-based phenomenon; c) mitigated Internet anxiety types; d) built a framework for assessing human anxiety and; e) quantified cultural attributes for conceptualizing and measuring Internet anxiety. It was shown in earlier slide that there was a research gap. Now in this section, I compare my work with previous work. Comparatively, this work empirically validated three new IA types and the most common IA types were identified. It also found general symptoms associated with web usage. However, previous work did not observe or mention IA symptoms. But in this thesis, two novel scales are developed and validated that measure IA. There are also a tools developed. However, previous work did not develop any tools or replicated any work. But, this work replicates the work of (Joiner et al., 2005, 2007, 2012)
- This thesis describes conceptualization, and capability to measure levels of Internet anxieties. For understanding anxieties a conceptualization and capability to measure levels of Internet anxieties are needed. Through literature, an understanding of anxieties and cultural models was established. Based on this understanding a conceptual framework was built. Investigations (studies) using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were carried out. Two types of measurement scales (MIAS, SAS) were derived. As a proof-of-concept, implementation of the three sets of tools (MyAnxiety, Intelligentia and MyIAControl were carried out.
- There are several peer-reviewed papers published that contributes to research and practice as development of self-assessment scale, typologies, and formal categorization of Internet anxiety (types) has not been studied earlier. Here some of the major contributions of the thesis: This is the first study to specifically conceptualize and measure participants’ Internet anxiety using different methods and interdisciplinary literature. A novel approach for measuring Internet anxiety using Modified Internet Anxiety Scale (MIAS) and a self-assessment scale (SAS) on the Internet Is developed which is far better than preexisting scales. A logical conceptual framework for assessing human anxiety on the Internet to conceptualize and measure human anxiety in introduced. A formal development of measuring affective feelings of users (an introduction of FeelCalc etc.) is formulated. Various approaches are proposed for types of Internet anxieties experienced. A formal development of the concepts of quantifying cultural attributes in understanding human behavior on the Internet is undertaken.
- As a part of future works, the author recommends an active individual initiative regarding social responsibility of web usage. HCI specialists who are designing and building interfaces for information systems should take an active role towards a better quality of life through integrated systems that promote social well being, and also combat the problems associated with the Information Age. More diverse tools, apps to engage user online and mitigate their level of Internet anxieties is required. In future, one could also study anxiety levels in human-robot interaction.
- Here is a scene that explains father-son conversation. Similar to a hypothetical user named “Johnny” in thesis, here “Jermey” is yelling: “Gaaaa I’ve been waiting forever for this stupid webpage to load!” and his dad asks: “how long is ‘forever’? And Jeremy replies: “four seconds,” and his dad responds: “Jeremy let me explain something to you about patience…” And Jeremy responds: “okay, are you almost finished, I’m bored.”