USAGE & GRATIFICATION OF INTERNET AMONG IX & X STUDENTS

Sushma N Jogan
JRF scholar
DOS in Education
Gulbarga University,
Kalaburagi-585106
Email: snjogan.jogan@gmail.com
Mob: 9591715030

Dr. Hoovinbhavi B.L

Professor & Dean
DOS in Education
Gulbarga University,
Kalaburagi-585106
Email: hoovinbhavibl@gmail.com
Mob: 9480576959

Abstract:
The internet has become an educational tool with numerous potentials. The study aims to
investigate the usage and gratification of internet in secondary school students. The study
established that there is a positive relationship between exposure to internet uses and
gratifications sought by secondary students. The students use and get motivated to use the
internet for many purposes viz, communication, information seeking, developing social
interactions than for entertainment, coping with peer pressure, escape from problems etc. A
structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. 100 samples were selected by using
simple random technique. Data were collected by survey method. The study reveals that most of
the students use internet for seeking information regarding their learning especially they use to
download previous year question papers to solve it. Sometimes the use of internet also helps
them in making assignments given by the teacher at school. Thus the uses and gratification
sought by students were influenced by various dimensions.
Key words: Internet, gratification, secondary students and ICT
Introduction:
The Internet is a network of computer networks covering the entire world as long as there is a
connection and requisite infrastructure in place. The Internet is an educational tool with
numerous potentials. It may be used to replace the traditional classroom lectures or supplement
traditional instructional methods. The Internet enables students to communicate with other
students abroad and thus share each others ideas, knowledge, experiences, and cultures. The
Internet enhances skills and capabilities of students, which assist them in studies and in
professional life. Students with high CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) use the Internet
more for their studies and gain more knowledge and information across the world.
New technologies here denote significant technological developments that have changed entirely
the world of information and communication technologies

Need and significance of the study:

The Internet has now become an integral part of daily life; it is used for entertainment and
communication as well as education. In fact it has become an integral part in teaching and
learning process. Students are more enthuses compared to others in its usage and gratification. So
in the present study the researcher attempted to know the level of usage and gratification among
secondary students. It is only a small step in the quest to assess the value of this new medium, it
is important in that it permits identification of the motivations of individual users. The study can
also help to identify crucial points where intervention may be necessary in order to realize the
WWW's full potential as an educational resource. Once we understand what motivates students
to utilize this medium, we can better design incentives that encourage educational use and
discourage use that distracts students from that goal.
Literature review:
1. Geer, Aynur Kolburan (2014) This study addresses university students' information
search and commitment strategies on web environment and internet usage self-efficacy
beliefs. The research results indicate that students' scores on "elaboration" strategy in the
Web environment and scores of self-efficacy regarding Internet use were at the
intermediate level. Students' educational Internet use self-efficacy beliefs are moderate
according to the highest and lowest points of the survey. The analyses found that there
was a relation between Internet use self-efficacy beliefs and information search and
commitments strategies within the Web environment.
2. Naik (2012) examined the status of digital corporate libraries in Karnataka on the basis of
survey research method and noted that the future agenda must deal with the relationship
between digital corporate library and corporate social responsibility. The study suggested
that integrated efforts should be put forth by the top management, coordination
committee, advisory committee, professionals and other personnel in order to enrich the
status of digital corporate libraries in Karnataka State.
3. Swain (2011) carried out a survey on 45 million Internet users in India and noted the
integration of Internet use with public spaces in respect of young generation of Internet
users. The study revealed the negative effects of using the Internet on social involvement
and psychological well being among new Internet users which included a decline in
communication with family members, social contacts and human relations in Indian
society. The researcher also observed that Internet helped extraverts to get socialized and
introverts become self centered in modern society.

4. Jain et.al. (2008) examined the two mutually reinforcing applications of information and
communication technologies including the Internet for socioeconomic development of
India. The study revealed that educational institutions, development organizations, NGOs
and other agencies increasingly utilized the Internet based information resources and
services to reach out to the people across the country and enlist their active participation
in the processes of education, organization and development.
5. Buckingham (2007) examined the Internet exposure among the children and teenagers
and noted that motivations were stronger predictors than demographics 61 from the point
of view of Internet users and gratification of the beneficiaries. The study revealed that
Internet had the potential to provide a window to the outside world to the children and
other users.
Operational terms defined:

Internet: a global computer network providing a variety of information and

communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized

communication protocols.
Gratification: the act of giving pleasure or satisfaction to : the state of being pleased or

satisfied
Secondary students: a school intermediate between elementary school and college
ICT: information and communications technology (ICT) refers to all the technology
used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management
systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control
and monitoring functions.

Objectives:
1. To understand the usage level of internet among class 9th and 10th students.
2. To identify the different reasons for using internet in their learning.
3. To know the significant difference between class 9th and 10th students with respect to
gender.
4. To find out the significant difference between class 9th and 10th boys and girls.
5. To suggest the students about the usage of internet for their benefit.
Hypotheses:
1. There is a significant difference between gender and usage of internet among secondary
students.
2. There is a significant difference between class 9th and 10th.
3. There is a significant difference in usage of internet between class 9th girls and boys.
4. There is a significant difference between class 9th and 10thgirls.

5. There is a significant difference between class 9 and 10th boys.

6. There is a significant difference between class 10th girls and boys.
Sampling technique: For the present study the researcher adopted simple random sampling.
Sample size: 100 secondary students has selected from Ken Bridge School, Kalaburagi.
Method and tool: Survey method has followed by the researcher. Standardized questionnaire is
used for the present study.
Statistical technique: Mean, SD and t was used.
Analysis and interpretation of data: Based on the collection of data, the data is interpreted
with the help of SPSS version 19.
Table 01: There is a significant difference between gender and usage of internet among
secondary students.
Gender
Usage &
gratification
of internet

Mean

Std. Deviation t

Girls

40

3.78

.733 1.754

Boys

60

4.05

.790

Level of Sig
0.083*

Note: * not significance at 0.05 level

The above table 01 shows that the Girls studying in secondary school (N=40), Mean value =
3.78, Standard Deviation = 0.733 is low compare to that of secondary Boys (N=60), Mean value
= 4.05 , Standard Deviation = 0.790, calculated t value is 1.754 and obtained significant value 0.083
is not significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is no significant
difference between gender and usage of internet among secondary students.
Table 02: There is a significant difference between class 9th and 10th
Class

usage

Class 9
Class 10

Mean
53
47

3.83
4.06

Std.
t
Deviation
.672 1.512
.870

Level of Sig
0.134*

Note: * not significance at 0.05 level

The above table 02 reveals that the students studying in Class 9 (N=53), Mean value = 3.83,
Standard Deviation = 0.672 is low compare to that of Class 10 (N=47), Mean value = 4.06,
Standard Deviation = 0.870, calculated t value is 1. 512 and obtained significant value 0.134 is not
significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is no significant
difference between class 9th and 10th

Table 03: There is a significant difference in usage of internet between class 9th girls and boys.
Std

Usage

Mean

Std. Deviation t

Class 9 girls

30

3.73

.740 0.336

Class 9 boys

29

3.79

.620

Level of Sig
0.738*

Note: * not significance at 0.05 level

The above table 03 shows that the Girls studying in Class 9th (N=30), Mean value = 3.73 ,
Standard Deviation = 0.740 is high compare to that of Boys studying in Class 9th (N=29), Mean
value = 3.79, Standard Deviation = 0. 620, calculated t value is 0.336 and obtained significant value
0.738 is not significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is no

significant difference in usage of internet between class 9th girls and boys.
Table 04: There is a significant difference between class 9th and 10thgirls.

Usage

Std
Class 9 girls
Class 10 girls

N
Mean
Std. Deviation t
30
3.73
.740
10

3.90

Level of Sig
0.617
0.541*

.738

Note: * not significance at 0.05 level

The above table 04 reveals that the Girls studying in Class 9th (N=30), Mean value = 3.73,
Standard Deviation = 0.740 is high compare to that of Girls studying in Class 10th (N=10), Mean
value = 3.90, Standard Deviation = 0.738, calculated t value is 0.617 and obtained significant value
0. 541 is not significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is no

significant difference between class 9th and 10thgirls.

Table 05: There is a significant difference between class 9 and 10thboys

usage

Std
Class 9 boys
Class 10 boys

N
29
31

Mean
Std. Deviation t
3.79
.620 2.546
4.29
.864

Level of Sig
0.013*

Note: * significance at 0.05 level

The above table 05 shows that the Boys studying in class 9 th (N=29), Mean value = 3.79 ,
Standard Deviation = 0.620 is low compare to that of Boys studying in class 10 th (N=31), Mean
value = 4.29 , Standard Deviation = 0.864, calculated t value is 2.546 and obtained significant value
0.013 is significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is a significant

difference between class 9 and 10th boys.

Table 06: There is a significant difference between class 10th girls and boys.

std
Class 10 girls
Usage
Class 10 boys

N
10
31

Mean
Std. Deviation t
3.90
.738 1.283
4.29
.864

Level of Sig
0.207*

Note: * not significance at 0.05 level

The above table 06 reveals that the Girls studying in class 10 th (N=10), Mean value = 3.90,
Standard Deviation = 0.738, is low compare to that of class 10th boys (N=31), Mean value = 4.29,
Standard Deviation = 0.864, calculated t value is 1.283 and obtained significant value 1.283 is not
significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the proposed hypothesis can be stated as there is no significant

difference between class 10th girls and boys.

Suggestion and conclusion:
It is to suggest that secondary students can be motivated to use internet for seeking more
information in their educational activities. It can be done through parental control at their homes
and with teachers support at school. The usage and gratification of internet is an essential part in
daily life. Because every one of us is dependent on internet to work done. To conclude we can
say that there is no significant difference between class 9 th and 10th students, significant
difference found only between class 9th and 10th boys. As there is more number of tasks assigned
in the school so students prefer internet is the only resource to complete the given work. It is also
observed that most of the students from class 10 th uses internet to download previous year
question papers and to gratify from it. So, I can say that students of both the class use the internet
as the need arises in their learning.

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