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Dissertation Information for Raymond Alan Pyles

NAME:
- Raymond Alan Pyles

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Communication

SCHOOL:
- University of Southern California (USA) (1981)

ADVISORS:
- Thomas H. Martin

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Not_Inspected

Title: USING COMPUTER BASED INFORMATION: HOW INFORMATION SYSTEM TYPES AFFECT DECISION MAKERS' UNCERTAINTIES

Abstract: This study develops a computer based information system utilization model that relates decision makers' behaviors to computer based information system reports' content. Prior perceived uncertainty and information system reports interact to reduce uncertainty, which increases system use. Perceived uncertainty includes three components: state of nature, available alternatives, and outcomes. Computer based information systems are classified into three types that differentially describe each component: data systems indicate the state of nature; forecasting systems indicate likely outcomes; and suggestion systems indicated alternatives that will likely lead to desirable outcomes. Decision makers highly uncertain about one component should become less uncertain when they receive reports about that component from the corresponding information system type. The decreased uncertainty should lead the decision makers to increase their information system use, both increasing their beliefs in their own performance and reducing their tendencies to avoid decisions.

This dissertation tested the computer based information system utilization model in a field experiment using twelve Air Force logistics analysts and managers. Two nearly identical logistics planning tasks were simulated, with the wartime planning task expected to induce greater outcomes uncertainty than the peacetime planning task. Perceived uncertainty, performance beliefs, and decision avoidance intentions were measured before and after receiving either forecast reports or suggestion reports in each task. The hypothesis that forecast reports would cause greater uncertainty reduction in the wartime task than in the peacetime task was not supported. The hypothesis that the suggestion system would cause greater uncertainty reductions in both tasks was not supported and in the wrong direction. The hypothesis that performance beliefs would be negatively related to uncertainty was strongly supported (F = 6.87, p < .02). The hypothesis that decision avoidance would be positively related to uncertainty was not supported.

Post-hoc analyses indicated that the suggestion reports may have contradicted subjects' prior beliefs about what actions would be effective. Those contradictions may have counteracted the uncertainty reduction predicted by the model. Thus, the model was extended to predict that reports contradicting decision makers' prior beliefs would increase their uncertainties.

MPACT Scores for Raymond Alan Pyles

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2009-06-25 04:13:34

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