Digital Natives: Elements of User Dissatisfaction

Date of Degree

12-2010

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Education

Advisor

Patricia A. Watkins

Advisor

Richard Gray

Advisor

Norman St. Clair

Abstract

This study was based on Herzberg's (1966) two factor motivation theorem in which he described the influences that motivators and hygiene factors have on motivation.

Natives are a generation of young people who have been immersed their entire lives in digital technologies such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3s. Their numbers have been growing and they represent the majority of students currently entering post-secondary academic institutions. Despite their increasing numbers, the factors influencing them were generally based on claims rather than research. This study was based on Herzberg's (1966) two factor motivation theorem in which he described the influences that motivators and hygiene factors have on motivation. Dissatisfaction is a byproduct of missing hygiene factors that negatively influence motivation. The study contributed to the understanding of the factors that influenced dissatisfaction among Digital Natives. The findings revealed a variety of environmental and task related characteristics that influenced Digital Native dissatisfaction. Unfulfilling, meaningless, overpriced, unreliable, unresponsive, complicated, slow, inconvenient, and troublesome were all elements that were representative of a Digital Native's dissatisfying information and communication technology (ICT) experience. The researcher reasoned that dissatisfaction influencing elements deserve careful consideration in developing a Digital Native's ICT academic setting.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS