Relationship between self-report and log data estimates of information system usage

Self-report estimates of frequency and duration of computer use are used ex tensively in research related to computer and information systems acceptanc e. Despite concerns that self-report estimates are inferior to computer log data there is a paucity of research investigating the relationship between self-report and log data measures of computer use. The present study compa red self-report estimates and six months of electronic log data for 62 heal th care workers using a new Community Services Information System. There we re moderate to strong correlations between the self-report and electronic l og estimates of frequency and duration of system use. Self-report estimates were relatively accurate in that they were quite similar in magnitude to l og data values. The merits of combinations of frequency and duration data ( composites) were also assessed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.