State anxiety responses as a function of specific computer interaction events

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of investigating anxiety in human-computer interactions. The model was constructed from three components. Firstly, precursor conditions of anxiety were identified by assimilating several of the accepted theoretical viewpoints of the anxiety concept. Secondly, the computer-human interaction process was examined and typical events in this process were identified. Finally, a connection between the computer-human interaction process and anxiety was proposed by identifying a subset of specific interaction events that were representative of the anxiety inducing conditions. These were termed Computer-Interaction Anxiety (CIA) events. To test the validity of the model an experiment was carried out in which state anxiety data was collected while 31 subjects were engaged in an interactive computer programming session. There was a significant increase in the subjects' state-anxiety level immediately after experiencing typical CIA events.Education, Faculty ofCurriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department ofGraduat