Attitudes toward computers: when do they predict computer use?

Many people in the MIS ®eld have accepted the idea that attitudes affect the frequency and type of computer use but research has provided inconsistent results. This paper, therefore, explores the conditions under which attitudes can predict computer use, investigating both workers' volitional control and their knowledge of the technology. Analyses are based on responses of 168 white-collar employees in 77 computer-using work groups. Attitudes were found to predict the number of hours of computer use for all workers, but only predicted the extent of job computerization for those who had real freedom of choice and knowledge about their computer system. # 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved