Constituent elements of the electronic noetic: An exploratory study

The presence of an electronic environment adds a new dimension to the cognitive portion of human communication, which is referred to as the electronic noetic. It is proposed that the mentation function of human communication differs with the presence of an electronic medium, due to certain distinctive elements of the medium. To discover the differences in complex cognition when human communication takes place within an electronic setting was the goal of the research.;By a factor analysis, terms chosen by the subjects from the highest level of computer literacy were identified and grouped. The five factors that emerged as unique descriptors of the electronic noetic were related to stages of complex cognition. These reflected general characteristics of an electronic environment.;The electronic noetic is firmly rooted in the oral tradition, but distinctive enough to dramatically alter mentation. The distinctive elements present in the electronic noetic--multi-media, hypermedia, object oriented associations, virtual reality, and instant access/unlimited storage--are termed constituent elements of the electronic noetic. The research hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between terms describing complex cognition and the level of immersion into the psychotechnologies was accepted. The proposition that there are certain representative elements that identify the uniqueness of the electronic noetic was supported. The significance of the study lies in its function as another step toward developing a full theory of the electronic noetic.;The research method was an exploratory one, employing a Q sort methodology. Individuals were compared across a sample of statements (n = 70) representative of a population of universal statements. Available research by scholars of complex cognition and of the oral, written, and electronic noetics determined the descriptors used. A Repertory Grid of bipolar personal constructs of complex cognition was elicited by pilot surveys. This determined the contents of the Q sort deck, sorted by subjects from three levels of computer literacy. The Q sorts of one hundred and sixteen subjects were correlated with level of immersion into the electronic noetic. A significant positive correlation was found between those at the highest level of computer literacy and the set of terms indicative of the electronic setting.