Locus of control and computer attitude: The effect of user involvement

Investigation of the relationship between locus of control and user attitude toward information systems used at work found external-control users who had not been highly involved during CBIS development had a less positive attitude towards the CBIS.

Abstract

Previous research has shown that individuals with an external locus of control have a less positive attitude toward computers and have greater difficulty in working with unfamiliar computer technology than individuals with an internal locus of control. Since past studies have not examined attitude towards a specific computer based information system (CBIS) that had been used regularly, the implications of past research on computer attitudes in a work setting are not clear. This study sought to investigate the relationship between locus of control and user attitude toward information systems used at work. Additionally, the impact of user involvement on this relationship was examined. A field study failed to provide support for the general assertion that locus of control affects a user's attitude towards a specific CBIS. When user involvement was considered, external-control users who had not been highly involved during CBIS development had a less positive attitude towards the CBIS than either internal-control users or external-control users who had been highly involved.