Robert Campbell

In social and cognitive psychology, theories related to human attitude change are well established. In recent years, it has become increasingly common for those who seek to change attitudes towards computer based information systems to employ attitude change notions that originate from psychology.
In this paper, the findings of those who have employed ‘attitude change psychology’ to understand or change user attitudes, are synthesised to create a prototype framework by which it is proposed that user attitudes could be cultivated as part of a system implementation. Operating as a summary of existing knowledge, this frame work also unveils significant areas of empirical deficit, providing a basis for future investigation.

At the best of times; the integration of new computer based information systems that carry a high level of inscription can be problematic; the situation is exasperated further if the information system is being imposed upon an organisation by an absent and previously unknown body. This paper proposes that Relational Agents when combined with StructurANTion theory can assist in the integration of such environments. Relational agents have been found to make computer interfaces more attractive and have enabled the automation of procedures that depend on interpersonal relationships. It is proposed here that a relational agent could be embedded into an application to assist in its own integration. To do this; an agent would automate the StructurANTion translation process; on behalf of an absent actor as well as initially attracting users to the interface. To support this proposition; existing research into relational agents is reviewed.