TAMIU Professor Edits New Text on Psychology, Info Systems

The intriguing intersection of psychology and information systems is explored in a new text edited by Texas A&M International University professor of Information Systems Ned Kock.

“Evolutionary Psychology and Information Systems Research: A New Approach to Studying the Effects of Modern Technologies on Human Behavior” (Springer, 2010), compiles current research on how our evolving psychological traits, such as our capacity to understand or acquire language, can affect the way we approach and understand technology.

Dr. Kock, considered one of the leading scholars in Evolutionary Psychology-Information Systems (EP-IS) research, brings together the research of other leading world researchers as part of Springer’s Integrated Series in Information Systems. Among the chapter authors are another TAMIU faculty member, Dr. Christopher Ferguson; and two former TAMIU doctoral students advised by Dr. Kock, Drs. Ruth Chatelain-Jardon and Jesus Carmona.

The book initially frames evolutionary psychology concepts and theories to form a foundation for research, and then focuses on examples of current EP-IS research in practice.  It concludes with a look at breaking issues and debates that can illuminate future research in the field.

Kock believes that EP-IS research has tremendous application in diverse fields, including software creation and engineering, computer science and organizational or systems research.

“This text identifies our evolved psychological traits and how they inform our approach to the technology that so typifies modern life.  With an enhanced understanding of these traits, we can look at how we can better interface with technology for its enhanced understanding and increased use,” Dr. Kock said.

Kock joined TAMIU’s A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business in 2003. He holds his Ph.D. in management with a concentration in information systems from the School of Management Studies at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.  Originally from Brazil, he holds a B.E.E. in electronics engineering from the Federal Technological University of Parana at Curitiba and his M.Sc. in computer science from the Institute of Aeronautical Technology there.

He is director of TAMIU’s Collaborative for International Technology Studies (CITS), vice president for Public Relations of the South Texas Information Management Society, founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of e-Collaboration and Associate Editor for Information Systems of the journal IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (IEEE TPC).

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