In this dissertation, I investigate whether the conceptualisation of computerised technological phenomena is influenced by social variables, in particular exposure to the computer. The conceptualisation and behaviour of a group of students majoring in technology-related fields were studied. Through the application of Conceptual Blending Theory, the multi-modal desktop metaphorical blend (DMMB) (as an electronic representation of an actual office desktop) was focused on. The participants were provided with tasks with the aim of determining whether they conceptualise the electronic desktop as a literal ‘thing-in-itself’ or as an e-version of their actual desks. The intent was to examine to what extent social variables, especially exposure, motivate the nature of the conceptualisation. Therefore, it is hypothesised that exposure, regarded as the primary variable in this study, influences conceptualisation of the DMMB to the extent where the it either loses its metaphoric quality in participants, who maintain regular and prolonged exposure to the computer, or retains the metaphoric quality of the DMMB in participants, who are not exposed to the computer on a regular and prolonged basis. Two groups were distinguished based on the extent of the individual participants’ exposure to computer technology, namely a high-exposure group and a low-exposure group. A mixed method approach was used to test and analyse data collected from individual participants, as well as from the high- and low-exposure groups. Methods used to test these hypotheses included questionnaires, word association (a conceptual task), controlled observation (a behavioural task), and interviews. The resulting data were analysed by means of a thematic interview analysis and non-parametric statistical tests. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

In this dissertation, I investigate whether the conceptualisation of computerised technological phenomena is influenced by social variables, in particular exposure to the computer. The conceptualisation and behaviour of a group of students majoring in technology-related fields were studied. Through the application of Conceptual Blending Theory, the multi-modal desktop metaphorical blend (DMMB) (as an electronic representation of an actual office desktop) was focused on. The participants were provided with tasks with the aim of determining whether they conceptualise the electronic desktop as a literal ‘thing-in-itself’ or as an e-version of their actual desks. The intent was to examine to what extent social variables, especially exposure, motivate the nature of the conceptualisation. Therefore, it is hypothesised that exposure, regarded as the primary variable in this study, influences conceptualisation of the DMMB to the extent where the it either loses its metaphoric quality in participants, who maintain regular and prolonged exposure to the computer, or retains the metaphoric quality of the DMMB in participants, who are not exposed to the computer on a regular and prolonged basis. Two groups were distinguished based on the extent of the individual participants’ exposure to computer technology, namely a high-exposure group and a low-exposure group. A mixed method approach was used to test and analyse data collected from individual participants, as well as from the high- and low-exposure groups. Methods used to test these hypotheses included questionnaires, word association (a conceptual task), controlled observation (a behavioural task), and interviews. The resulting data were analysed by means of a thematic interview analysis and non-parametric statistical tests. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

本研究的主要目的有二：其一，驗證經過修改後的「句詞關聯作業」此一實驗派典，是否可以成為一套能有效區辨高、低社交焦慮者解釋性認知偏誤的測量工具。其二，驗證以「句詞關聯作業」作為解釋性認知偏誤修正工具時，是否能夠有效且持續地改善高社交焦慮者不適應的解釋性偏誤情形與社交焦慮症狀。為達到上述兩個研究目的，分為研究一與研究二進行。研究一選取86名高社交焦慮與59名低社交焦慮之非臨床大學校內學生，施予社交焦慮與情緒相關量表、句詞關聯作業以及解釋性偏誤相關問卷。研究一的結果顯示，相較於低社交焦慮者，高社交焦慮者同時具有較高程度的威脅解釋偏誤，以及較低程度的非威脅解釋偏誤。當執行組內比較時，則進一步發現並非高社交焦慮者具備某種解釋性的偏誤，反而是低社交焦慮者的解釋傾向展現出某些特殊性。此外，藉由相關分析，發現解釋性偏誤的在線與離線歷程、威脅與非威脅解釋偏誤之間具有緊密關聯，而句詞關聯作業與其他相關的測量工具彼此具備聚斂性。研究二邀請研究一之80名高社交焦慮者繼續參與實驗，隨機分派為改善訓練組與中性訓練組。受試者根據所屬組別接受相對應的訓練程序，為期四週共八次。訓練結束後再度施予社交焦慮與情緒相關量表、句詞關聯作業以及解釋性偏誤相關問卷，並於一個月後進行追蹤評估。研究二的結果顯示，改善訓練程序的確可有效地降低高社交焦慮者的威脅解釋偏誤，並且提升其非威脅解釋偏誤。細究此療效之所以發生的機制，主要在於促使高社交焦慮者形成與低社交焦慮者相似的解釋偏誤特性。然而，在降低社交焦慮症狀上，本研究並未看見明顯效果，內文將對此非預期結果進行討論。總體而言，針對社交焦慮者的解釋性偏誤情形，「句詞關聯作業」的確具備成為輔助性評估與介入工具之潛力。 / The purpose of the present study was twofold. First, it aimed to examine if the modified paradigm, sentence word association paradigm (SWAP), can differentiate interpretation between high and low social anxious individuals. Second, it tried to investigate the effects of interpretational training, using the training version of SWAP as cognitive bias modification program, in modifying interpretative bias and in reducing social anxiety symptoms in high social anxious individuals. In study 1, a total of 86 high social anxious and 59 low social anxious participants completed seven questionnaires and SWAP. The results showed that high social anxious individuals had greater threat interpretative bias and smaller benign interpretative bias compared to low social anxious individuals. Further, it was important to note that when comparing within group, actually not high but low social anxious individuals showed some special interpretation patterns. In addition, the statistics revealed significant correlations between on-line and off-line data, threat and benign interpretative bias. The current study also had found the consistency between SWAP and questionnaires measurements. In study 2, eighty high social anxious participants from study 1 were assigned randomly into modification training and neutral control group. All participants completed eight interpretaional training sessions delivered over four weeks (twice a week). Participants were also required to complete postassessments and follow-up assessments. The results indicated that the modification training program successfully increased the benign interpretative bias and decreased the threat interpretative bias, compared to the neutral control condition. When exploring the training mechanism, the current study discovered that modification training program helped high social anxious individuals gain the same interpretation patterns as low social anxious individuals had. However, the modification training program didn’t reduce social anxiety symptoms in high social anxious individuals. This unexpected finding were discussed. In conclusion, SWAP may have clinical utility when applied as assessment and intervention.