Navigation in electronic space: Users' learning strategies of word processing.

In communication research, there has been a lack of studies that investigated how people interact with technologies. As technologies become more complex, the issue of usage must also be addressed. Twenty-eight secretaries and support staff were given a word processing test to assess their level of proficiency. Out of this group, four novice and six advanced users were selected for non-directive interviewing. The study found that advanced and novice users shared very different thought worlds about word processing. Additionally, it was found that there were novices who displayed characteristics of advanced users and there were novices who tended to learn new word processing skills only when their work demanded them (minimally-involved novices). A new hypothesis was developed. The notions of advanced-novice users (ANUs) and novice-advanced users (NAUs) were suggested. The ANUs was defined as novices who displayed characteristics of advanced users. The NAUs was defined as experienced users who displayed characteristics of novice users. A Likert scale was constructed to test whether these two notions appeared valid. The results supported the hypothesis. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Communication Studies. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1991 .C4534. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 31-01, page: 0457. Chairperson: Thomas F. Carney. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1991.