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ERIC Number: ED548548
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 208
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-2674-1787-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Possessions and Self Extension in Digital Environments: Implications for Maintaining Personal Information
Cushing, Amber L.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This research explores individuals' relationships with their personal digital information through the concepts of digital possessions and self extension. Two studies were conducted. In the first study, twenty-three participants were interviewed about their definitions of digital possessions and digital legacies, and about their connections to their personal digital information. In the second study, forty-eight participants were asked to conduct three Q sorting tasks in order to gain a better understanding of their thoughts and opinions regarding self extension to digital possessions and maintaining digital possessions for a digital legacy. Findings revealed that digital possessions: (1) provide evidence about the individual, (2) represent the individual's identity, (3) are recognized by the individual as having value and, (4) provide a sense of bounded control. Self extension to digital possessions exists on a multilayered spectrum consisting of the characteristics of self extension to possessions, possession attachment, and use. Finally, participants used "archival logic" when maintaining digital possessions, preferring characteristics that describe primary and/or secondary values of digital possessions. Results have implications for the tools, strategies, and methods archival professionals use when helping people create and maintain digital legacies. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A