Andrea Polzer-Debruyne

Citation

Thesis Title
Psychological and Workplace attributes that Influence personal web use (PWU).

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Ms Polzer-Debruyne investigated why people differ in the degree to which they use the Internet at work for their personal interest. She firstly developed and tested a theoretical model of fourteen psychological and workplace attributes that were expected to influence differences in individuals’ personal web use. Secondly, she validated and expanded on her statistical findings by thematically analysing research participants’ comments on their non-work Internet use, and the effect electronic monitoring may have on usage. Her results identified workplace boredom, and how morally acceptable a person finds personal web use, as influential in determining differences between individuals’ levels of personal web use. She also concluded that an understanding of differences in personal web use is closely linked to insights into organisational culture. Her research has provided a theoretical basis for future studies, and has shown that changes in personal web use may best be achieved by changes in workplace boredom.

Supervisors
Professor Stuart Carr
Associate Professor John Spicer
Dr Stephen Atkins
Dr Helena Cooper-Thomas