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Matching
Person and Technology (MPT) (Scherer, et. al. 2002) is a set
of assessment instruments (protocols) that were developed
through
participatory action research (a collaboration
of researchers and those expected to benefit from the research) to address differences
between technology users and non-users across three broad areas:
(a) Determination of the milieu/environment factors influencing use,
(b) Identification of the consumer's needs and preferences, and
(c) Description of the functions and features of the most desirable and appropriate
technology. The set of instruments take a personal, collaborative (user
and provider working together) approach to assessing the potential technology
need; choosing the most appropriate technology given the user’s needs and
goals, the technology features, and environmental support. |
They have been
designed to:
- Provide
a general technology screening and evaluation as well as specific
technology matching.
- Apply across individuals, types of technology, and environments of
use.
- Be completed
in approximately 15 minutes; a more comprehensive battery in
approximately 45 minutes.
The MPT
process contains a series of instruments (self-report
checklists about consumer predispositions to and
outcomes of technology use)
that take into account:
- the
environments in which the person uses the technology,
- the individual's characteristics and preferences, and
- the technology's functions and features.
Characteristics
within these three components can each contribute either a positive
or a negative influence
on technology use.
If there are too many negative influences, the chance of the technology
being successfully used is greatly reduced. In fact, the technology
itself
can appear perfect for a given need, but if the user does
not
possess the appropriate personal characteristics or does not receive needed
support, that perfect technology may go unused or be used inappropriately.
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