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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
International Journal of Current Research
Vol.2, Issue, 2, pp.127-134, January, 2011
ISSN: 0975-833X
SPECIAL ISSUE: REVIEW ARTICLE
ATTITUDE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS TOWARDS INTERNET CHATTING ON
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Prigimol Augustine and Arulsamy, S.
Department of Education, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: The present study is focused on the attitude towards Internet chatting on
Received 17th October, 2010 educational development of college students in Coimbatore district,
Received in revised form Tamilnadu. The investigators used normative survey method for the
25th November, 2010
Accepted 18th December, 2010
study. The sample consists of 200 college students from two Arts and
Published online 27th January, 2011 Science and two Engineering colleges in Coimbatore District. Stratified
random sampling technique has been used for the selection of sample.
Key words: The investigators developed a tool themselves to measure attitude
towards Internet chatting on educational development. The data were
Internet Chatting, analysed using ‘t’ test and χ2 - test. The major findings of study reveal
Educational development, that the college students in Coimbatore district have good favourable
Internet Chatting Attitude Scale (ICAS).
attitude towards Internet chatting on educational development and their
attitude differed in terms locality of college.
© Copy Right, IJCR, 2011 Academic Journals. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION heavy users of the Internet compared to the general

The most striking invention in the field of education is
the integration of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in education. One of the most
significant developments in this technology is the growth
of the “Internet”. The internet has grown so big that it
has permeated into almost all aspects of human life – at
home, at work, or at play. The Internet has changed the
course of the world completely. It has reshaped the way
we communicate, work, play, and how we understand
the world around us. With the rise of the Internet as a
digital highway for messages and images - people now
have a fast, convenient, and reliable means to transmit
and receive information. It is now widely used as a
research tool for news, education, entertainment,
and informal web-based education.College students are
*Corresponding author: prigimol@yahoo.com
population. Internet use first became widespread on
college campuses in the 1990s, and in many ways the
Internet is a direct outcome of university-based research.
Use of the Internet is a part of college students’ daily
routine, in part because they have grown up with
computers. It is integrated into their daily
communication habits and has become a technology as
ordinary as the telephone or television. Among the
applications of Internet, chatting has an important role
for students in their studies and educational
development. Many students are making extensive use
of Internet chat to enhance their learning. Internet use is
a staple of college students’ educational experience.
They use the Internet to communicate with professors
and classmates, to do research, and to access library
materials. The present study is based on a survey to
investigate the attitude of college students towards
Internet Chatting on their educational development.
128 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011
Need for the study
One of the tools for greater information brought
about by global technology is the Internet, has
become the ideal means of providing a quality
education and progress not only for the company
today but for economic educational organization
that develop projects to upgrade today to bring the
greatest amount of learning communities. For that
reason this technological resource to education is
formidable because they produce enrichment in the
development of learning. The Internet provides
tremendous educational benefits including access
to information across a wide variety of topics,
establishing educational links and enhancing
communication with teachers and classmates. It
provides significant benefits for students, such as
research access, socialization, entertainment, and a
communication tool with families and friends.1.
Most of these facilities can be acquired through
Internet Chatting. The Internet Chat can enrich
students and their school-based learning and can be
a tool for creative and intellectual work with
others. It is a fast and efficient means of gaining
information and knowledge. Internet chatting
provides opportunity to share questions, concerns,
and experiences regarding educational researches
with foreign scholars. But some studies (Robert
et al. (2001); Kimberly Young (1999) show that
excessive Internet use is associated with academic
problems. Internet chatting has its own pros and
cons and has its impact on education. Developing1.
right attitude among college students towards
Internet Chatting will make them to use it in good
ways. Realizing the importance of developing right
attitude towards Internet chatting the investigators
made an attempt to investigate the attitude of
college students towards Internet chatting on their
educational development.
Operational definitions
Attitude: - In this investigation Attitude can be
defined as the sum total of man’s inclinations and
feelings, prejudice or bias, pre-conceived notions,
ideas, fears, threats and convictions about Internet
chatting.
Internet Chatting: - Internet chatting can refer to
any kind of communication over the Internet, but is
primarily meant to refer to direct one-on-one chat
or text-based group chat.
Educational Development: - Educational
Development is a term that tends to be reserved for
the activity undertaken by those who specialize in
enhancing learning and teaching and whose role is
to assist students with their learning.
College students: - Students those who are doing
higher studies in college and are of age above 17 or
18 years old.
Objectives of the study
The present study has the following objectives; To
find out the attitude of college students towards
Internet Chatting on their educational development.
To find out there is significant difference, if any, in
the attitude of college students towards Internet
Chatting on educational development based on
their a) Gender b) Locality c) Type of college To
find out there is significant association, if any,
between 1) Male and Female, 2) Rural and Urban,
and 3) Arts & Science and Engineering Students’
opinion on the statements in ‘Internet Chatting
Attitude Scale’.
Delimitations of the study
The present study has the following delimitations,
The investigators selected only 200 college
students in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, for
the study. The investigators selected only 4
colleges in Coimbatore district of Tamilnadu. The
investigators done the research only in 2 Arts and
Science colleges and 2 Engineering colleges.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The investigators used normative survey method to
study about the attitude of college students towards
Internet Chatting on educational development.
Sample: - A total sample of 200 college students
was taken up for the present study. It consists of 2
Arts and Science and 2 Engineering colleges in
Coimbatore district. Stratified random sampling
technique is used for the selection of sample. The
 129 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011

Table 1. Difference between college students’ attitude towards Internet chatting

based on their (a) gender, (b) locality (c) type of college

Variables Categories N Mean % SD t-value Level of

Significance
Male 116 74.97 68.2 9.644 1.077 NS
Gender Female 84 73.29 66.6 11.73
Rural 100 75.77 68.9 9.106 2.04 S
Locality Urban 100 72.76 66.1 11.72
Type of Arts&Science 100 74.93 68.1 8.832 0.879 NS
College Engineering 100 73.6 66.9 12.1
Significance level at 0.05 level is 1.98.

Table-2(i). Association between male and female Students’ opinion on the following statements

S.N Statements Variable df χ2 Results

1. The Internet Chatting is a fast and efficient means of Male 4 4.031 NS
gaining information and knowledge. Female
2. Internet Chatting cannot be fully trustful. Male 4 11.392 S
Female
3. Internet Chatting acts as a media of communication on Male 4 7.001 NS
discussion between students and teachers. Female
4. Internet chatting promotes citizen-oriented teaching Male 4 3.66 NS
methods. Female
5. With the Internet chatting, we can investigate a lot of Male 4 2.846 NS
things that we never thought we could. Female
6. Internet chatting is a democratic medium. Male 4 4.152 NS
Female
7. Internet chatting has reduced the quality of education. Male 4 5.051 NS
Female
8. Chat is able to transmit the same amount of knowledge Male 4 5.644 NS
usually gained in more expensive lectures and meetings. Female
9. Internet Chat will enhance the effectiveness in learning. Male 4 6.399 NS
Female
10. Internet chat can establish a network among college Male 4 6.822 NS
students. Female
11. Student researchers use Internet chatting to communicate Male 4 14.241 S
with other researchers. Female
12. Internet chat has a great impact on teaching and learning Male 4 9.474 NS
and in carrying out interdisciplinary and collaborative Female
projects.
13. Internet Chatting fill communication gaps between face- Male 4 6.869 NS
to-face meetings. Female
14. Internet Chatting helps teachers to discover students’ Male 4 4.217 NS
interests, needs, and problems . Female
15. The Internet chat provides learning opportunities outside Male 4 2.874 NS
the classrooms. Female
16. The Internet Chat can enrich children and their school- Male 4 5.141 NS
based learning and can be a tool for creative and Female
intellectual work with others.

17. Internet Chatting allows for the equitable distribution of Male 4 3.323
knowledge and the full exercise of citizenship. Female NS
18. Through Internet Chatting some students get addicted to Male 4 9.611 S
cyber sex. Female
19. Internet chatting as a limitless space inhabited by all Male 4 2.868 NS
available human knowledge, as a reservoir of infinite Female
objects.
20. Internet chatting not only can influence children's Male 4 5.8 NS
cognitive and academic skills, but can also shape Female
children's social interactions and development.
21 Internet chatting provides opportunity to share questions, Male 4
concerns, and experiences regarding educational Female 3.358 NS
researches with foreign scholars.
22 Internet chat includes unnecessary, non-useful knowledge. Male 4
Female 9.371 NS

Significance level at 0.05 level is 9.488

stratification has been done on the basis of gender,
locality of the college, and type of college. Fifty
respondents were selected randomly from each
college. Accordingly 200 questionnaires were
distributed among the students.
Tool: - The investigators developed and validated a
tool to measure attitude of college students towards
Internet Chatting on educational development
which contains twenty two statements. Since there
was no tool available to measure the attitude
 130 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011

Table-2 (ii). Association between Rural and Urban Students’ opinion on the following statements.

S.N Statements Variable df χ2 Results

1. The Internet Chatting is a fast and efficient means of Rural 4 2.176 NS
gaining information and knowledge. Urban
2. Internet Chatting cannot be fully trustful. Rural 4 14.764 S
Urban
3. Internet Chatting acts as a media of communication Rural 4 17.3 S
on discussion between students and teachers. Urban
4. Internet chatting promotes citizen-oriented teaching Rural 4 15.092 S
methods. Urban
5. With the Internet chatting, we can investigate a lot of Rural 4 15.024 S
things that we never thought we could. Urban
6. Internet chatting is a democratic medium. Rural 4 4.532 NS
Urban
7. Internet chatting has reduced the quality of education. Rural 4 4.492 NS
Urban
8. Chat is able to transmit the same amount of Rural 4 11.248 S
knowledge usually gained in more expensive lectures Urban
and meetings.
9. Internet Chat will enhance the effectiveness in Rural 4 10.896 S
learning. Urban

10. Internet chat can establish a network among college Rural 4 16.286 S
students. Urban
11. Student researchers use Internet chatting to Rural 4 8.302 NS
communicate with other researchers. Urban
12. Internet chat has a great impact on teaching and Rural 4 1.58 NS
learning and in carrying out interdisciplinary and Urban
collaborative projects.
13. Internet Chatting fill communication gaps between Rural 4 1.696 NS
face-to-face meetings. Urban
14. Internet Chatting helps teachers to discover students’ Rural 4 5.556 NS
interests, needs, and problems. Urban
15. The Internet chat provides learning opportunities Rural 4 5.88 NS
outside the classrooms Urban
16. The Internet Chat can enrich children and their Rural 4 4.852 NS
school-based learning and can be a tool for creative Urban
and intellectual work with others.
17. Internet Chatting allows for the equitable distribution Rural 4 9.406 NS
of knowledge and the full exercise of citizenship. Urban
18. Through Internet Chatting some students get addicted Rural 4 16.818 S
to cyber sex. Urban
19. Internet chatting as a limitless space inhabited by all Rural 4 5.462 NS
available human knowledge, as a reservoir of infinite Urban
objects.
20. Internet chatting not only can influence children's Rural 4 0.902 NS
cognitive and academic skills, but can also shape Urban
children's social interactions and development.
21. Internet chatting provides opportunity to share Rural 4
questions, concerns, and experiences regarding Urban 5.9 NS
educational researches with foreign scholars.
22. Internet chat includes unnecessary, non-useful Rural 4
knowledge. Urban 19.852 S

Significance level at 0.05 level is 9.488

towards Internet chatting on educational
development among college students, the
investigators had to develop a tool to measure the
same. An attitude scale namely, Internet Chatting
Attitude Scale (ICAS) was developed by the
investigators in order to measure the attitude of the
learners towards Internet Chatting on educational
development. The investigators opted to follow
Likert’s method of summated ratings to develop
this scale. After a thorough study of available
literature, thirty items were written in the draft of
the scale. After the pilot study eight items had to
be deleted from the draft and 22 items were
selected for the final tool. Out of these, 18 were
positive statements and 4 were negative statements.
These 22 items were arranged in random order.
The reliability of the attitude scale was found to be
0.825 and The content validity was worked out
using 't' -test.
Data collection: - For the data collection, the
investigators visited personally the 4 colleges in
Coimbatore district and collected the data from the
respondents. The data were collected with the help
of the developed tool. The investigators sought
permission from the principals and approached the
students in their respective colleges. The tool was
distributed to the students and the investigators
assured that their responses would be kept
confidential and used for research purpose only.
 131 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011

Table-2(iii). Association between Arts Science and Engg Students’ opinion on the following statements

S.No Statements Variable df χ2 Results

1. The Internet Chatting is a fast and efficient means of gaining Arts&sci 4 8.466 NS
information and knowledge. Engg

2. Internet Chatting cannot be fully trustful. Arts&sci 4 5.278 NS

Engg
3. Internet Chatting acts as a media of communication on Arts&sci 4 2.152 NS
discussion between students and teachers. Engg
4. Internet chatting promotes citizen-oriented teaching methods. Arts&sci 4 9.88 S
Engg
5. With the Internet chatting, we can investigate a lot of things that Arts&sci 4 8.478 NS
we never thought we could. Engg
6. Internet chatting is a democratic medium. Arts&sci 4 3.148 NS
Engg
7. Internet chatting has reduced the quality of education. Arts&sci 4 2.798 NS
Engg
8. Chat is able to transmit the same amount of knowledge usually Arts&sci 4 6.49 NS
gained in more expensive lectures and meetings. Engg
9. Internet Chat will enhance the effectiveness in learning. Arts&sci 4 7.79 NS
Engg
10. Internet chat can establish a network among college students. Arts&sci 4 5.958 NS
Engg
11. Student researchers use Internet chatting to communicate with Arts&sci 4 7.696 NS
other researchers. Engg
12. Internet chat has a great impact on teaching and learning and in Arts&sci 4 1.96
carrying out interdisciplinary and collaborative projects. Engg NS
13. Internet Chatting fill communication gaps between face-to-face Arts&sci 4 8.576
meetings Engg NS
14. Internet Chatting helps teachers to discover students’ interests, Arts&sci 4 4.08 NS
needs, and problems. Engg
15. The Internet chat provides learning opportunities outside the Arts&sci 4 7.94 NS
classrooms Engg
16. The Internet Chat can enrich children and their school-based Arts&sci 4 6.076 NS
learning and can be a tool for creative and intellectual work with Engg
others.
17. Internet Chatting allows for the equitable distribution of Arts&sci 4 9.76
knowledge and the full exercise of citizenship. S
Engg
18. Through Internet Chatting some students get addicted to cyber Arts&sci 4 2.744 NS
sex. Engg
19. Internet chatting as a limitless space inhabited by all available Arts&sci 4 9.898
human knowledge, as a reservoir of infinite objects. S

Engg
20. Internet chatting not only can influence children's cognitive and Arts&sci 4 1.452 NS
academic skills, but can also shape children's social interactions Engg
and development.
21. Internet chatting provides opportunity to share questions, Arts&sci 4
concerns, and experiences regarding educational researches with Engg 9.668 S
foreign scholars.

22. Internet chat includes unnecessary, non-useful knowledge. Arts&sci 4 4.032 NS

Engg
Significance level at 0.05 level is 9.488

Clear instruction was given to enable them to give
their response meaningfully. The gathered
responses were scored.
Statistical Analysis: - The data collected were
analysed by using descriptive and inferential
analysis. The statistical techniques-‘t’ test and χ2
test were employed for the analysis and
interpretation of the data.
Analysis of the data
Hypothesis 1:- There is no significant difference in
the attitude of college students towards Internet
Chatting on educational development based on
their (a) Gender (b) Locality (c) Type of college
The Table – 1 shows that the calculated value of
‘t’ (1.007) is less than the table value (1.98). Hence
the null hypothesis-1(a) is accepted at 0.05level.
That means, there is no significant difference
between the mean scores of male and female
college students in their attitude towards Internet
Chatting on educational development. From the
above table it is clear that, if we consider the
locality, the calculated value of ‘t’ (2.04) is greater
than the table value (1.98). Hence the null
hypothesis-1(b) is rejected. That means, there is
 132 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011
significant difference between the mean scores of
rural and urban college students in their attitude
towards Internet Chatting on educational
development. So rural college students have better
favourable attitude than the urban college students
towards Internet Chatting. Also the table shows
that, in the case of type of college, the calculated
and (0.879) value is less than the table value (1.98).
So null hypothesis – 1(c) is accepted at 0.05 level.
Hence there is no significant difference between
the mean scores of arts and science college
students and engineering college students in their
attitude towards Internet Chatting on educational
development.
Hypothesis 2: There is no significant association
between i) male and female ii) Rural and Urban
iii) Arts & Science and Engineering Students’
opinion on the statements in ICAS. The
hypotheses of statement 2,11and18 are rejected at
0.05 level. Hence there is significant association
between male and female college students’ opinion
on the above mentioned statements. And the
hypotheses of 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13,
14,15,16,17,19,20,21and 22 are accepted at 0.05
level. Hence there is no significant association
between male and female college students’ opinion
on the above mentioned statements.
The null hypotheses for the statements 2, 3, 4, 5,
8, 9, 10, 18 and 22 are rejected at 0.05 level of
significance. Hence, there is significant association
between rural and urban college students’ opinion
on the above mentioned statements. Also from the
above table it is clear that the hypotheses for the
statements 1,6,7,11,12,13,14,15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and
21 are accepted at 0.05 level of significance.
Hence, there is no significant association between
rural and urban college students’ opinion on the
above mentioned statement.
At 0.05 level of significance, the hypotheses of
statement 4, 17, 19, and 21 are rejected. Hence
there is significant association between Arts &
Science and Engineering college students’ opinion
on the above mentioned statements. The above
table also shows that the hypotheses of
1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16,18,20, and 22
are accepted at 0.05 level. Hence there is no
significant association between Arts & Science and
Engineering college students’ opinion on the above
mentioned statements
Findings
1. The college students have good favorable
attitude towards the influence of Internet
Chatting on their educational development.
2. There is no significant difference between the
mean scores of male and female college
students in their attitude towards Internet
Chatting on educational development.
3. The rural college students have better attitude
towards Internet Chatting than urban college
students.
4. There is no significant difference between the
mean scores of arts and science college students
and engineering college students in their
attitude towards Internet Chatting on
educational development.
5. There is significant association between male
and female college students’ opinion on the
statement 2,11and18.
6. There is no significant association between
male and female college students’ opinion on
the statement 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17,19, 20, 21and 22.
7. There is significant association between rural
and urban college students’ opinion on the
statements 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9,10, 18 and 22.
8. There is no significant association between
rural and urban college students’ opinion on the
statements1,6,7,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,20 and
21
9. There is significant association between Arts &
Science and Engineering college students’
opinion on the statement 4,17,19, and 21.
10. There is no significant association between Arts
& Science and Engineering college students’
opinion on the statements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10,11,12,13,14,15, 16,18,20, and 22.
DISCUSSION
From the present study, it is clear that the college
students have good favourable attitude towards
Internet Chatting and they agreed that
improvements are clearly visible in their
educational process by the same. The study reveals
that the male and female students are not differing
 133 International Journal of Current Research, Vol.2, Issue, 1, pp.127-134, January, 2011
much in their attitude towards Internet Chatting on
educational development. That means both male
and female college students are getting equal
freedom to use Internet and through the use of
Internet chat they are showing improvements in
their academic life. The present study also shows
that rural college students have better favorable
attitude towards Internet Chatting than urban
college students. The availability and accessibility
of the high technologies like Internet is very less in
the rural areas. Hence, the rural students are getting
opportunity to use internet only in the educational
institutions and public libraries and they are
making use of that for their educational process.
Urban students can get all the facilities and they
may not be interested to make use of it, because
they are not aware of the importance of these
facilities which they are getting at home.
In this study there is not much difference
between Arts and Science college students and
Engineering college students in their attitude
towards Internet Chatting. Because now a days all
the students are doing Internet Chatting for getting
the latest information for their studies. As a whole,
if we look into the study, we can conclude that
irrespective of gender, locality, or type of college,
the students show positive attitude towards Internet
Chatting on their educational development. For
most of the statements, there is significant
association with the attitude of college students
towards Internet chatting based on their gender,
locality, and type of college.
For the statements “Internet chatting promotes
citizen-oriented teaching methods”, “Internet Chat
will enhance the effectiveness in learning”,
“Student researchers use Internet chatting to
communicate with other researchers”, “Internet
Chatting allows for the equitable distribution of
knowledge and the full exercise of citizenship”,
“Internet chatting provides opportunity to share
questions, concerns, and experiences regarding
educational researches with foreign scholars” there
is significant association with college students’
attitude towards Internet chatting. This reveals that
how far the college students are having positive
attitude towards Internet chatting on their
educational life. With the help of all those 22
statements the investigators could extract the
correct attitude of college students towards Internet
chatting.
Educational implications
This study has the following educational
implications;
1. Lectures can be given by the experts in the field
to make the students understand, what all
possibilities for educational development can
be acquired through Internet Chatting.
2. Some facilities may be given to students in the
college to do Internet Chatting under the
guidance of teachers to bring them in the
mainstream of educational process.
3. Since Internet chatting is one of the best ways
to collect information, student may be trained to
use internet chatting in an effective way.
Conclusion
Internet is a new technology that has influenced the
world and has provided many benefits to its users,
especially to the college students. It provides many
benefits for students, such as research access,
socialization, entertainment, etc. Most of these
facilities can acquire through Internet Chatting.
College students are mainly considered as heavy
users of Internet and Internet Chatting.
Irrespective of gender or their branch of study, they
involve in Internet Chatting and it will enhance
their level of learning. With Internet chatting, they
can investigate a lot of things that we never thought
we could. It acts as a media of communication on
discussion between students and teachers. When
the chatting goes excessive, it will lead the
individual into Internet Addiction. If the students’
attitude towards Internet Chatting and their usage
are observed, the Internet addiction can be
prevented by giving proper guidance and
counseling to them.
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