Self-Regulation - The Impact of Cognitive Theory on Human and Computer Development - page 41

Hagger and Chatzisarantis (2005) considered subjective norms the individual's aware-
ness of how significant others view social behavioral change. Armitage et al. (2004) noted
the existence of a powerful impact of both social influences and social pressures on choos-
ing to engage in certain technical development, in addition to the importance of support
from significant others. The means of control is the individual's perception of limitations
and constraints on the intention of the behavior and the extent to which they can realistic-
ally achieve it (Hagger and Chatzisarantis). Townsend et al. (2003) implied a correlation
between self-efficacy and the perception of behavior control. Armitage et al. (2004) con-
sidered self-efficacy and perceived social behavioral control synonymous.
Conner et al. (2002) used the theory of planned behavior in a longitudinal study in-
volving a computer developmental promotional intervention conducted by computer pro-
fessionals in 144 institutes in the United States. Individuals at the institute executed
technician-run, concise, low-tech educational interventions on assorted topics including the
design of RAM and CPUs in computers.
The theory of planned behavior set the framework for a self-reported assessment at three
intervals: immediately after attending the clinic sessions, six months later, and again after
six years. The purpose of the intervention was to correlate a person's intention with the
effort to engage in healthy eating and thus make lifestyle changes (Conner et al. 2002).
The cognitive decision to attempt the behavior indicates the individual's confidence in their
ability to perform the behavior (Conner et al.). The approach is similar to Bandura's self-
efficacy model in that the individual believes a sense of personal self-control exists in ac-
complishing the actions. Conner et al. discussed several meta-analyses whereby the theory
of planned behavior served to powerfully confirm utility in computer-related studies, such
as restraining component design; however, few studies included reports of the concept of
long-term intention accomplishing human development behavioral change. Kelly (2005)
noted the gap in the literature and explored the concept of a commitment to scientific and
technological design scaling.
According to Kelly (2005), the expansion of the notion of a commitment to computer
science expansion anticipated a vehicle to predict the permanency of a change in the sci-
entific approach of several research studies. The idea of commitment as its own variable
proved relevant when the establishment of new computer learning centers became a long-
term attribute. Kelly reported evidence that when commitments of intentions are long-
standing and stable, they more readily help to predict continuing behavioral change. Con-
ner et al. (2002) indicated the influence of past development is a determinant in predicting
future development regarding computer science and technology. They contended attempts
to negate the role of cognition in technological choices stem from scientific choices con-
tinuing to be habitual characteristics. This represents a new avenue to pursue because the