Gender, Experience and Attributions to the Computer

This study was conducted to examine descriptive references to the computer for differences in interactive styles when reporting success and failure experiences while working with a computer. Some computer users refer to the computer in psychological terms while others employ objective, instrumental references. Results showed that these differences were related to gender and experience and were affected by the success or failure of the task. Generally, essays which described successful episodes while working on a computer were more often written using impersonal references to the computer; essays describing failure episodes contained more personal, intimate terms for the computer. Females made tool-like references more often than males. However, the hypothesis that people would view the computer more as a tool with increased experience was confirmed only for females. Males were more likely to identify with the computer in a more personal, intimate style in both successful and failure instances if they reported high experience. Personal or animate attributions to the computer, as an indication of a sense of control over the computer, are discussed.