Effect of Frequency of Internet Use on Cognitive Processing among Adolescents

The present research intends to study the impact of frequency of Internet use on cognitive processing among adolescents. The sample consisted of 240 adolescents (120 males and 120 females) within the age range of 13 to 17 years. The subjects completed the Internet use scale (Donchi & Moore, 2004) and four scales measuring cognitive processing each measuring one dimension of Cognitive processing (i.e., planning, attention, simultaneous and successive processing). The data was subjected to 2×2 analysis of variance. The results of ANOVA clearly revealed significant differences between frequent and infrequent Internet users particularly in terms of planning, attention and successive processing while no significant differences was found in terms of simultaneous processing. The frequent Internet users thus, displayed higher cognitive processing benefits than their counterparts. In order to see the significance of differences among means involved in interactions Duncan's multiple range test was applied, the results revealed that infrequent female Internet users lack significantly in attention span task as compared to counterparts. Internet, thus may act as a tool that encourages certain kind of cognitive structures among adolescents.