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Resistance to computerization: an examination of the relationship between resistance and the cognitive style of the clinician
Mandell S. Journal of Medical Systems11 (4):311-318,1987.Type:Article
Date Reviewed: Oct 1 1988

This paper discusses the results of a survey designed to investigate the relationship between the cognitive style of the clinician and the introduction of computer technology in the health care field. The author states, “The relationship between the cognitive style of the clinician and resistance to computerization has been given scant attention in the literature.” This assertion may be true for the health care field; however, resistance to the implementation of computer-based technology in the workplace has been actively investigated for the past 20 years, and much of that literature is pertinent to this study. One difficulty of the present study is methodological. The sample is 35 nurses and clinical social workers. Thus, the sample size is too small to support a valid and meaningful interpretation of the results. Another problem lies with the selection of subjects to participate in the study, which was not based on randomization procedures. With these deficiencies in mind, the strength of the paper lies in the discussion of the cognitive style of the clinician versus that of the computer. The author states that the clinician uses intuitive problem-solving processes while the computer operates to force qualitative data into quantitative niches. Further, borrowing from cognitive consistency theory, this difference in approach creates “unpleasant cognitions” and thus resistance to computers in the health care field. Finally, the results of the survey are inconclusive and provide little empirical evidence to support the author’s assertions.

Reviewer:  Woodrow Barfield Review #: CR112385
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Life And Medical Sciences (J.3 )
 
 
Human Factors (H.1.2 ... )
 
 
General (K.4.0 )
 
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