Work Environment Factors and Cyberloafing: A Follow-Up to Askew

The role of the work station: Visibility of one’s computer screen to coworkers influences cyberloafing through self-efficacy to hide cyberloafing.

“…Moreover, an important theoretical question remains with regard to whether the influence of these work station factors is mediated through self-efficacy to hide—now established as a robust, strong predictor of cyberloafing (Sheikh et al, 2015). In contrast to the other aspects of the work environment measured in Askew et al’s (2011) original study, which either measure an immediate property of the work station (i.e., computer screen visibility, detectability of others approaching, and assigned work computer) or a general property of the work environment (i.e., the presence or absence of electronic monitoring), self-efficacy to hide cyberloafing measures a psychological construct that is presumably collectively influenced by aspects of the work station and surrounding environment (Askew et al, 2012). Self-efficacy is an overall assessment of how well one is able to hide his or her computer activity from coworkers and supervisors.…”

“…Askew and colleagues’ (2011) scales were used in this study. The scales measured computer screen visibility, detectability of others approaching, assigned (vs. shared) work computer, and electronic monitoring.…”

“…Regardless of the reason for the null results in Askew et al’s (2011) airport study, the fact that self-efficacy to hide cyberloafing is a significant predictor of cyberloafing in subsequent studies suggests that researchers should reexamine the other four work environment factors, some of which have not been empirically tested since Askew and colleagues’ (2011) original study. Whatever feature of the 2011 airport study sample that suppressed the results related to self-efficacy to hide might have also suppressed relationships between the other four environmental factors and cyberloafing.…”

“…The goal of this study is to follow-up on the study conducted by Askew and colleagues (2011) by reexamining several aspects of the work station (and electronic monitoring). We use a sample that is more representative than the high-status sample surveyed by Askew et al (2011) to ensure that more participants have motivation to hide their personal computer use at work. Given that we are following up on an exploratory study, with many null findings, we will avoid making the strong hypothesis that every work station factor influences cyberloafing.…”

“…Both emergent and nonemergent qualities of the work environment have been shown to influence cyberloafing (Bortolani & Favretto, 2009; Sheikh, Atashgah, & Adibzadegan, 2015). A better understanding of the process by which physical qualities of the work environment influence behavior through psychological constructs could inform control efforts (Askew, Coovert, Vandello, Taing, & Bauer, 2011). For example, an understanding of the work station properties that influence a person’s perception that he or she can cyberloaf and not get caught could inform how to set up work stations to naturally curtail cyberloafing.…”