Attitudes toward computers: Construct validation and relations to computer use

Attitudes toward computers are generally thought to be composed of two factors: (1) beliefs that the computer is a beneficial tool, and (2) beliefs that computers are autonomous entities. We employed confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to examine (1) the convergent and discriminant validity of scales assessing two attitudes toward computers, (2) the relative predictive validity of the two attitude dimensions with computer use, and (3) a theoretical model of attitudes toward computers and computer use. Results supported the hypothesis that attitudes toward computers are composed of two distinct constructs and the hypothesis concerning the ordering of the two computer attitudes and computer use. We found partial support for the hypothesis that the two attitude factors differ in their prediction of computer use. Overall, the results supported the idea that two distinct beliefs about computers are present and that these two beliefs are significantly related to computer use.     

Exploratory factor analysis of adolescent attitudes toward alcohol and risk

This 2-year longitudinal study of 302 high school students in the state of Indiana examined attitudes toward the use of alcohol in 25 potentially hazardous settings, varying from riding in a car, to swimming, to simply drinking at home. Student ratings indicated that they were capable of rationally evaluating alcohol-related risks. Principal components factor analysis identified three factors underlying student responses: propensity/desirability of the behavior, choice/control of the risk, and fear/consequences/likelihood of the risk. Each of these factors was comparable to factors found to be important in past studies of adult risk perception. The finding that self-reported behavioral propensity and desirability were weakly correlated with the measures of perceived risk is of particular interest. Attempts to reduce the use of alcohol by adolescents have traditionally focused on risk awareness. The implication of this study is that intervention programs might be more successful if they focused on modifying perceived value.     

Religion and attitudes toward work: A new look at an old question

This study examined the relationship of specific religions and degree of religious beliefs to various job-related attitudes and values such as motivational needs, job satisfaction, work ethic, and work, job and organizational commitment. Subjects were 222(107 male, 115 female) managerial and non-managerial workers in the Rocky Mountain area. Results showed no significant correlations between work-related altitudes and specific religious affiliation or degree of religious conviction. However, religious conviction was significantly finked to organizational rank, with non-managerial employees reporting a higher degree of religious conviction than managerial employees. Protestant workers scored higher in Protestant Work Ethic than did non-Protestants and persons with no religious affiliation had higher need for Power than Protestants, Catholics or affiliates of Eastern religions.     

White-collar workers' self-reported physical symptoms associated with using computers

The aim of our work was to study the physical symptoms of upper- and lower-level white-collar workers using a questionnaire. The study was cross-sectional with a questionnaire posted to 15 000 working-age persons. The responses (6121) included 970 upper- and 1150 lower-level white-collar workers. In the upper- and lower-level white-collar worker groups, 45.7 and 56.0%, respectively, had experienced pain, numbness and aches in the neck either pretty often or more frequently. When comparing daily computer users and nonusers, there were significant differences in pain, numbness and aches in the neck or in the shoulders. In addition, age and gender influenced some physical symptoms. In the future, it is essential to take into account that working with computers can be especially associated with physical symptoms in the neck and in the shoulders when workers use computers daily.     

Transit bus operator performance and attitudes toward a collision warning system: results of a simulator experiment

OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the results of a simulator experiment to examine the efficacy of a collision warning system for transit bus operators. METHODS: Bus operators from a major metropolitan transit agency were assigned to one of three conditions: a collision warning system with a visual-only driver-vehicle interface, a collision warning system with a visual and auditory driver-vehicle interface, or no collision warning system (baseline). Operators were exposed to a critical event at the end of the simulation, in which a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of the bus while the operator was distracted by an in-vehicle task. Upon completing the experiment, operators who used the collision warning system were asked about their experience using the system, as well as whether or not they would like such a system in real life. RESULTS: Experimental results revealed new information about transit bus operator performance, but indicated no statistically significant differences among the three conditions. Subjective data indicated that operators had a positive attitude toward collision warning system usage. Operators generally liked the collision warning system and felt that a system such as the one used in the experiment would help them in avoiding crashes in the real world. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a collision warning system for transit bus operators is feasible from the perspective of user acceptance. However, several technical areas still need to be resolved.     

Employee satisfaction in work groups with different gender composition

This study investigates the relationship between the gender composition of an employee's work group and the employee's job satisfaction, using a random sample over 1600 U.S. workers. After controlling possible confounding variables, our analysis shows that the level of an employee's job satisfaction is related to the gender composition of the employee's work group, and that the relationship of these variables does not differ between male and female employees. Both men and women working in gender-balanced groups have higher levels of job satisfaction than those who work in homogeneous groups. Employees working in groups containing mostly men have the lowest levels of job satisfaction, with those working in groups containing mostly women falling in the middle. These results are consistent with predictions based on Blau's theory of social structure, that satisfaction would be highest for employees in more heterogeneous groups. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Employee behaviors before and after stress management

A quasi-experiment was used to compare employee behaviors before and after stress management training. Organizational records on employee absenteeism, performance ratings, equipment accidents, and work injuries were obtained for highway maintenance workers who received biofeedback (BIO=21) or muscle relaxation (MR=16) training. Similar data were gathered for a comparison group of employees who did not volunteer for training (n = 80). The pre-training period (time 1) consisted of 2 1/2 years. The post-training period was divided into the year immediately after training (time 2) and the following 1/2 year (time 3). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the MR (but not BIO) group variable explained unique variance in time 2 absenteeism (p < 0.05) but not in performance ratings, equipment accidents, nor work injuries (p > 0.05). Neither group entered predictive models for any measure at time 3 (p > 0.05). The results provide limited support for relaxation training offered as a prevention activity in work settings.     

Employee influence on decisions: An analysis

Attitude data from a national sample of 2300 working adults are reported. The data show that employees feel they should have more influence on a number of decisions. This feeling is stronger for decisions affecting how their job is done, than for matters of corporate policy and personnel decisions. However, it is in the policy and personnel areas that they perceive the greatest discrepancy between the amount of influence they presently have and the amount of influence they feel they should have. Older, better educated, and higher-paid respondents felt they should have more influence on all decisions. The implications of these findings for the Quality of Work Life movement were considered. The data suggest a favourable future climate for certain types of employee influence/Quality of Work Life projects.     

Occupational risk identification using hand-held or laptop computers.

This paper describes the Work Environment Profile (WEP) program and its use in risk identification by computer. It is installed into a hand-held computer or a laptop to be used in risk identification during work site visits. A 5-category system is used to describe the identified risks in 7 groups, i.e., accidents, biological and physical hazards, ergonomic and psychosocial load, chemicals, and information technology hazards. Each group contains several qualifying factors. These 5 categories are colour-coded at this stage to aid with visualization. Risk identification produces visual summary images the interpretation of which is facilitated by colours. The WEP program is a tool for risk assessment which is easy to learn and to use both by experts and nonprofessionals. It is especially well adapted to be used both in small and in larger enterprises. Considerable time is saved as no paper notes are needed.     

员工依恋风格对间接不安全行为的影响

为加强对不安全行为,尤其是间接不安全行为的管控,本文对依恋风格进行分类,并分析依恋风格与间接不安全行为的关系,然后通过制订出的依恋风格量表了解员工的依恋风格,并根据依恋风格对间接不安全行为进行管控.研究表明:依恋风格可分为安全依恋和非安全依恋.可从人员选择、合理分组和安全依恋启动3个方面对间接不安全行为进行管控.     

Employee risk perception related to offshore oil platform movements

The results presented in this paper are based on a self-completion questionnaire survey regarding perceived risk and organizational factors conducted among 179 respondents on an offshore oil-installation in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. The aims are (1) to measure perceived risk caused by platform movements, potentially hazardous circumstances, and during the conducting of work tasks; (2) to measure employee evaluations of organizational and social factors, and (3) to analyze the associations between risk perception and the organizational and social factors. Ordinary occupational accidents caused the greatest proportion of respondents who felt unsafe. Perceived risk caused by catastrophes and disasters also created insecurity. The respondents were most satisfied with the status of contingency measures, and especially with the use of personal protective equipment and availability of personal protective equipment.     

Awareness,riding behaviors,and legislative attitudes toward electric bikes among two types of road users: An investigation in Tianjin,a municipality in China

Objective: This study aimed to understand the awareness, riding behaviors, and legislative attitudes of electric bike (e-bike) users and non-e-bike road users toward e-bikes in Tianjin, a municipality in China.

Methods: This cross-sectional investigation included 2 components. The field survey was conducted in 9 districts (4 urban and 5 rural) from 2015 to 2017. Adult participants were interviewed using a street intercept method. The online survey was conducted using the WeChat social platform. A series of questions related to awareness and practice of e-bike safety-related issues was asked.

Results: A total of 16,859 interviews were completed, including 1,653 (794 e-bike users and 859 other road users) in-person interviews by field survey and 15,206 (4,426 e-bike users and 10,780 other road users) by online survey. Except for ignoring a red light when making a left turn (P?=?.000) and waiting across the white line at a red light (P?=?.000), which e-bike users were lower than other road users, there were no significant differences between e-bike users and other road users in regards to the correct awareness rate of riding in the opposite direction, riding in a motor vehicle lane, running red lights, jaywalking, speeding, carrying adult passengers, and riding on the expressway (P?>?.05). In addition, 74.2% of e-bike users considered helmet use necessary (P?=?.000) and 54.7% thought that installing a windshield is wrong (P?=?.000), which was higher than other road users (49.1 and 48.4%, respectively). Other road users had greater awareness than e-bike users regarding whether turning left at a red light is wrong (91.7 vs. 85.1%), waiting across the white line when the light is red is wrong (86.6 vs. 75.9%), lighs should be turned on at night (94.8 vs. 90.3%). Correct practices were far behind awareness in all kinds of violation behaviors (P?=?.000) among e-bike users in the field survey. The rate of public support for legislation including those who very much support and support legislation was 93.34% in the field survey and 87.68% in the online survey.

Conclusions: E-bike users had lower correct awareness rate than other road users regarding e-bike violation behaviors but were more concerned about safety protection than other road users. E-bike users’ correct practices were far behind their awareness for all kinds of violation behaviors. Public education on the traffic law needs to be strengthened among e-bike users. The public strongly supported special regulations for e-bike use, such as helmet use.     

Flexible work schedules and mental and physical health. A study of a working population with non‐traditional working hours

The relationship between health complaints and flexible work schedules was studied in a patient population selected by general practitioners. Four hundred and eighty patients between 20 and 60 years, currently employed or on sick leave, completed questionnaires which compiled data on their work situation, subjective physical health, psychological well‐being, and quality of sleep. Subjective health measurements were performed by using the 21‐item Subjective Health Questionnaire (VOEG). Psychological well‐being was measured by applying a selection of the Sickness Impact Profile. Duration and quality of sleep were measured through a selection of the Groningen Sleep Scale. Patients working rotating shifts, compressed weeks, and irregularly changing hours showed significantly more health complaints, more problems related to their psychological performance, and more sleeping problems than a control group of workers with non‐flexible work schedules. Patients working on temporary employment contracts reported significantly more problems with their psychological performance. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高温作业的危害和防护

<正>在高气温或同时存在高温热源的环境下进行的生产劳动,通称为高温作业。高温环境容易影响人体的生理及心理状态,在这种环境下工作,除了会影响工作效率外,更会引发各种意外和危机。高     

Intraorganizational mobility and work related attitudes

Survey responses of 690 employees of a state agency were used to investigate the idea that internal mobility experiences ‘spill over’ to affect a variety of job attitudes and perceptions. Having one's internal mobility expectations met, as opposed to unmet, was associated with more favorable work-related attitudes, a finding not moderated by demographic factors. Furthermore, employees denied a job change for ‘fair’ reasons generally exhibited more favorable work-related attitudes than those denied for a reason construed as ‘unfair’ (e.g. sex discrimination, reverse discrimination). Demographic characteristics were again observed to moderate few relationships.     

大学生受电脑电磁辐射的研究

为了研究大学生受电脑电磁辐射的实际状况,采用EMR300电磁辐射分析仪,对电脑电磁辐射在100kHz～3GHz的电场强度值(V/m),进行了实验室研究性监测和宿舍、机房内的现场监测.监测的结果表明:宿舍中心处电磁辐射环境强度(100kHz～3GHz频率范围内的综合电场强度)低于0.5V/m;距离显示器屏幕前方0.4m以上操作电脑,则眼睛处辐射强度在安全值内.而目前,机房内台式电脑按行紧密摆放,前排电脑操作者后脑正对后一排电脑显示器突出的后部处,在后脑处辐射强度可超过10V/m;此外,学生宿舍空间拥挤,鼠标、键盘通常与显示器近距离摆放在一起,造成显示器辐射与键盘、鼠标自身辐射叠加,导致在键盘和鼠标处手掌受到的辐射强度大,不容忽视.