The Study of Internet Addiction
Uploaded by Jacob Mathew Pulikotil on Jun 05, 2007
A STUDY INVESTIGATING THE EXTENT OF INTERNET USE, LEVELS OF INTERNET ADDICTION, AND RELATIONSHIPS
As we enter into a new millennium, the Internet has provided us a new medium of communication that enables us to access vast amounts of information across a breadth of topics. Even though the Internet started of with the US department of defense and its attempt to establish a secure mode of communication between various research and military establishments, it has now evolved into a complex, fast-growing network linking various Internet servers throughout the world. Many consider the fantastic growth of Internet to be one of its most valuable assets. However, the seemingly endless growth of the Internet has not been completely without any controversy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that problems of harassment, stalking, and pornography have been related to excessive Internet use. Terms such as “Internet addiction” and “Pathological Computer use” (Goldberg, 1996 cited in King, 1996) have caught the attention of researchers. Considering the widespread growth of the Internet, various aspects of Internet use across demographic groups is an area of relevant research. One group, the college student population, may be particularly susceptible to problems related to Internet use, and more specifically – excessive Internet use. It has been shown that 28% of all Internet users are full time college students (Kandell, 1998). The students may become dependent on the Internet for a variety of reasons. Many students have been using the Internet for developing new relationships, or as a way of entertainment. Many of these online relationships also progress further and create problems later in life.
Statement of the Problem
The study investigated the degree of Internet addiction among the students of Assumption University (ABAC) and attempts to clarify the following research questions:
1. What percentage of the student population in Assumption University (ABAC) uses the Internet?
2. What is the level of Internet addiction (mild, moderate or severe) among Assumption University (ABAC) students?
3. What amount of time does a student of Assumption University spent on the Internet?
4. What types of interpersonal relationships are formed as a result of Internet use among students of Assumption University (ABAC)? What are the levels of these relationships (friendly, emotional, intimate)?
5. What relationships exist between demographic information (age group, gender, student status), Internet use variables (preferred activity on the Internet, time spent on the Internet), and relationships on the Internet?
6. What are the...