Internet affects the reading habits of students.

Use of Internet and reading habits

INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB, LAHORE

Internet affects the reading habits of students.

Business Research Methods and Techniques

Group Members:

Use of Internet and reading habits

Chapter I

Title Introduction

Page 5

a. Background ..................................................................................5 b. Goals and objectives ................................................................6

c. Abstract........................................................................................6 I I I I I IV Literature Overview ..................................................... 7 Theoretical Framework.............................................. 15 Methodology ............................................................. 25 a. Research hypothesis ................................................ 25 b. Operationalization of variables ................................ 25 c. Research design ........................................................ 29 e. Target population ...................................................... 29 f. Sampling procedure................................................... 29 g. Data Collection procedure ......................................... 31 h. Instrument / tool for data collection ......................... 32 i. Data analysis procedure ............................................ 32 j. Data collected in the form of tables .......................... 34
k.

Interpretation ............................................................ 36

Discussion ........................................................................... 38 a. Limitations and Suggestions........................................ 39 b. References ................................................................... 41 c. Appendix A: questionnaire......................................... 46

Use of Internet and reading habits

Use of Internet and reading habits

Chapter I

Introduction
Statement of the problem: This research aims to study the effects of excessive use of internet researches on book reading habits of students.

Background:
As it is our common observation that we are using internet more and more in our daily life. This thing has affected our many daily habits such as watching T.V, newspaper, outdoor walk, eating times, sleeping times, study times and many others. We do many of our pieces of work on internet such as newspaper reading, music listening, chatting. Therefore internet has changed our whole life. We observe that internet has also affected the life of a student. They prefer to use internet instead of doing their academic work. They also use the internet for the purpose of assignments and projects. They search soft copy of the material required for research and without reading it fully include it in the research project by just copying and pasting the material. So we can say that the use of internet has reduced the reading habits of the students. There is a need to study that how much internet has affected the students form reading the books. For this purpose we have tried to find the relationship between the use of internet and the reading habits, and this is the back ground of our research project.

Use of Internet and reading habits

Goals and objectives:

To manifest how internet usage affects reading habits. To look at the way internet have attained important position in the people's lives and how do they feel while using it. Various ways in which internet have integrated into the society and changing the norms and reading habits of students.

To investigate growing use of internet in education affecting the students.

Abstract
The present research investigated the effect of excessive use of the internet researches on reading habits of Punjab University students. We will use survey research design. We shall make a sample of 670 students from the Punjab University both male and female. We shall use Purposive sampling technique to collect the data from different departments of Punjab University. We shall make a questionnaire for the purpose of data collection. In order to analyze the Pearson Product Movement Correlation Coefficient will be employed. At the end, the statistical analysis will be used to reveal significant correlation between use of internet researches and reading habits of Punjab University students.

Use of Internet and reading habits

Chapter I I Literature Overview:

The Federal Networking Council (FNC) gave different definitions of internet. According them Internet is a global system of information that is joined by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or its extensions (Internet Monthly Reports, October 1995). They also define internet that Internet able to support communications using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons, and/or other IP-compatible protocols. (Internet Monthly Reports, October 1995). Internet also provides high ranked services for communications and all kind of information around the world available on it (Internet Monthly Reports, October 1995).

Internet began in the late 1960s as a project from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defence. It was an experimental network intended to allow scientist receiving research grants from ARPA to communicate with each other. Consequently, the network became known as the ARPA net. As people learned more about the benefits of nearly instantaneous electronic communication, the number people wanting to get on the ARPA net grew. In the late1980s the National Science Foundation (NFS) funded an upgrade for the ARPA net to be called the NFS net. It was interlinked to a dozen of supercomputer around the United States. The plan called for a number of regional networks were the equivalent to the U.S. interstate highway system, the regional networks were the equivalent to state highway system. And in a new development for the Net, some of the

Use of Internet and reading habits

regional networks began selling accounts to ordinary people and business. Since the1980s, data traffic on the Internet has grown at a rate of 20 percent per month, an increase dramatically in NSF net membership. Today we have progressed to a revolution that has affected the lives of all human beings on the planet (Howe, 2007). Its growth from 2000 to 2005 indicated in World Internet Usage and Population Statistics(2006), In Africa usage growth is 429.9% , in Asia 218.7%, in Europe 177.5%,in North America110.3%, in Australia 134.6% and in Latin America is 342.5% and in total world the net usage growth rate is 183.4% (Hussain & Tufail,2006).

The internet is an interconnection of thousands of different networks. The major function of internet is the transportation of data and not to perform functions on data. Machines connected to the internet are defined by their IP addresses. These machines can also be known by a name which is given by a name-server. This name-server contains a corresponding table between names and addresses. We can say that there are no physical boundaries in the internet. It works in cyberspace. Internet is an environment that allows people to break away from geographic, linguistic, cultural and technical constraints, so they can enjoy the advantages of unimpeded contact and communication (Hussain & Tufail,2006).

The major services presently offered by the internet are: ''E-mail, News, the World Wide Web (WWW)''. Sometime one wants to ask a question concerning a particular subject and there is no special person who can answer it for you. Through the internet you can just ask it in a newsgroup and many of the subscribers can give you beneficial answer. The World Wide Web (WWW) caused the real explosion of the internet. It was a revolution in cyberspace. The WWW

Use of Internet and reading habits

is a distributed multimedia network. All this information is interlinked and relocated. While consulting a web page you do not have to know where the information site is. What make more interesting is that each user can put his own pages in the internet and make them known to millions of other people. The WWW includes a File Transfer Protocol service, which lets you download files to your computer if you do not have enough time to consult them on a remote system. It allows you save connection time and make a copy of these files for yourself. Web pages are loosely analogous to chapters in a book. Just by pointing and clicking a highlighted item, each page can contain links to several other places. Even before the World Wide Web (WWW), there were search engines that attempted to organize the internet. The first of these was the ARCHIE search engine from McGill University in 1990, followed in 1991 by WAIS and GOPHER. As the web grew, search engines and web directories were created to track pages on the web and allow people to find things. The first full search engine was WEBCRAWLER in 1994. Before WEBCRAWLER, only Web page titles were searched. Another early search engine LYCUS was created in 1993 as a university project, and was the first to achieve commercial success. During the late 1990s both Web directories and Web search engines were popular- YAHOO founded in 1995 and ALTAVISTA in 1995 were the respective industry leaders (Anonymous, 2008).

''The internet is, in some ways, one of the most powerful tool ever invented not only in the context of its application but also in terms of technology, its access to Global knowledge data-base and the knowledge-based economics and societies possible which are peculiar to it '' (Hussain & Tufail,2006, p.10). Some of the prominent positive effects of the internet are in

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benefits for business, benefits for health area, benefits in education, benefits for dealing with poverty, improving life styles, creating employment, etc. there is no doubt that internet is changing life in all aspects. Education is greatly affected by internet. It has changed the world of knowledge. Now you have every kind of information about the world in your own home. It expanded the information sources for the students. Libraries, and CD's all of these and other material can be found on the internet in a better and easy manner. The information is available is being constantly updated and expended. New information is immediately entered and material is updated. Those information which to students cannot access otherwise available to students on internet.. It is much like a large and solid encyclopedia with up-dated practical information (Hussain & Tufail,2006). ''The internet has eliminated the need to be in the same place, at the same time, as the person or resource both are interacting with'' (Hussain & Tufail, 2006 , p.5).The internet provides a tremendous and amazing chances for the students to find reference material and highly relevant information for their studies. Students also have the chance to contact each other and with their teachers any where through internet. .Use of the internet for enriching educational activities will assist in preparing students success in life and work in 21st century (Anonymous, 2006) . Studies advocating Internet benefits have reported several positive effects. On-line survey reports that almost equal number of parents (68%), students (69%), and teachers (69%) said that they have personally seen student's grades improve through the use of internet. Internet use has also been reported to improve hours of studying habits. Internet use has also been reported as having greater access to research and library materials. Around 1.5 million people in Pakistan are reported to use the Internet

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regularly with a growth rate of 123.6% during 2002-2004 (<www.internetworldstats.com> as cited in Suhail & Bargees, 2006).

Reading habits: what are reading habits, inclined towards something to read, to gain knowledge or to seek something? Or used for reading. Reading habits are usually assessed by how much you read a book, or number of pages of a book per day (Dykeman, 2002). Use of Internet to support learning and teaching is growing tremendously, as more educational organizations are recognizing the potential which internet offers (Nazim & Chowdhary, 2004 as cited in Nazim, 2008). Technology can affect people immediately or in shorter time. People use different kind of technologies. With the help of these technologies they are making their lives easier to live. Internet is one of the most popular technologies making the lives of students more comfortable. Access to information is now easier through internet as compared to books. It does not mean that printed media is come to its end but now we can read many of the same material on internet. Books, journals and many other magazines are provided on internet and are easily searchable and accessible ( Dykmen, 2002).Trinity School District analysis shows that internet has a power which can also prove harmful for students by approaching to inappropriate material provided on internet. They can access to adult/banned material. Excessive use of internet can produce health problems. It is possible that internet may busy students in extracurricular activities (Anonymous, 2006). A study shows students using internet for greater hours will show more educational problems. More internet use is associated with Internet abuse. In a study of excessive use of internet is associated with more interpersonal, psychological, behavioural, and physical complaints (Suhail & Bargees, 2006).

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Reading is an action that was only restricted to printed materials in the past. Textbooks, reference manuals, magazines, newspapers, journals, articles are printed documents but now these are all available on internet. Internet is a rival of printing press and spreading knowledge throughout the world (Dykeman, 2002).

Recent developments in information and communication technologies, especially the Internet and the Web, brought significant changes in the manner we generate, store, access information and make use of it. (Chowdhury & Chowdhury, 2003 as cited in Nazim, 2008).Some experts say that people are reading less then ever. But in fact peoples are not reading less; the way of reading, their medium is changed are now available on-line, but the volume and verity of online books are relatively small and limited compared to their printed versions (Dykmen 2002).

On the CNN website according to the poll of 1,003 adults, 27% of the people had not read a single book all year. The typical person has read four books in the past year. Fears that the internet and other technologies will cause the decline and fall of print media are probably growing more. Well Jeff Jarvis has pointed out many problems with the books. Once they are printed and purchased, cannot be up dated and corrected. They have no link to related knowledge, debates, and sources; we have to search different books for reference material. They create, at best, a one relationship with the reader. They try to teach readers but don't teach authors. They tend to be long extremely long because they have to be long enough to be books.

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They take time to search. They are not linkable. It is expensive to take them. It is not comfortably afford by the people. They carry no conversation. They have no metadata.(Jarvis, 19 May,2006)

Richard Charkin, head of Macmillan publishers in the UK, writes a darned good CEO blog. He shares some stats about competition for the book: On average across the world people spend 6.5 hours a week reading. The most of amount time spent reading is in India (10.7 hours) the least in Korea (3.1 hours). On average people now spend more time on the internet for leisure than reading- 8.9 vs 6.5 hours. Internet use reduces the time people have for reading by around 20%. 40% of Europeans don't read books. More people use the internet for leisure than read books in the developed world and people wonder why publishers are spending so much time and effort on the digital development. The most connected country in the world that is Korea least time reading book (Charkin, 2006).

A National Endowment for the Arts( 2004) published a report "Reading at Risk". The results showed that 57% of the American adults had read a book in 2002. The cause was television watching, movies and the Internet. 27% of the people hadn't read a single book this year, in which nearly a third of men and a quarter of women who answered that they had not read a single book this year . They tend to be older, less educated, lower income, minorities, from

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rural areas and less religious (Anonymous, 2007). Hao Zhenxing, director of the center said that conventional reading could never be replaced by scanning the web media.( Mondays China daily, 2006)

Information is available to us at hand; we can take it whenever we want. Because of this easy access the limitation to go to library for information is almost ended. There is a limitation of this technology that we cannot read real books that often, but a summary of them is available for our academic needs. People are now reading only shorter text of different material, in this way the reader cannot enjoy the taste of whole material. So reading and internet are probably are not the best fit, long texts can also harm the eyes of reader. The internet is the slight hindrance to the progress of making adults more lettered (Hopper, 2002)

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Chapter I I I

Theoretical Framework:
User acceptance is defined as the desire of the user to use a technology for his help in certain task for which purpose it is made (Dillon & Morris, 1996). Users are usually not using that technology which does not produce desirable consequences (Alvi, Henderson, & Swnason, 1988 as cited in Dillon & Morris, 1996). Therefore, user acceptance is usually viewed as that the strong reason of using information technology is based on its consequences, success or failure (Davis, 1993 as cited in Dillon & Morris, 1996). Acceptance is usually based on the outcome of technology which leads to the decision about technology (Dillon & Morris, 1996).

Fishbein Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) describes how beliefs, attitudes, norms, intentions, and behaviour are related. According to this theory, an individual's behaviour is decided by any ones intention to perform the behaviour. Any ones intention is influenced by the individual's attitude and subjective norm. Subjective norm is explained in terms of that it is about persons thinking that the people around him taking his action in whether good or bad terms (Fishbein Ajzen as cited in Dillon & Morris, 1996). In TRA model, attitude toward an action is determined by firm opinion about the outcome of the action and the affective evaluation of these outcomes. Firm opinion or Beliefs are defined as the persons own expectation about performing that behaviour and its expected consequences. Affective

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evaluation is an implicit evaluative response( Fishbein Ajzen, p.29 as cited in Dillon & Morris, 1996).

While TRA is a general model, a number of specific models have been derived from TRA. Of these models is Davi's (1989) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). It gave two main factors that affect users acceptance; perceived usefulness (U) and perceived ease of use (EOU). According to TAM usefulness (U) and perceived ease of use (EOU) have a great effect on a user's attitude toward using technology(A). Behavioural intentions to use the technology (BI) is described as user's attitude toward using the technology (A) and usefulness (U). BI then determines actual use. Research has consistently shown that BI is the strongest predictor of actual use (Davis et al. as cited in Dillon & Morris, 1996).

The theory of Planned Behavioural (TPB) (Ajzen, 1985, 1991). Thos modal gave a third factor perceived behavioural control, to the TRA model. Perceived behavioural control is determined by skills, resources, and opportunities available to you and the importance of these in achieving outcomes (Dillon & Morris, 1996).

Innovation diffusion theory, the other theory of technology acceptance. It is not directly related to technology diffusion theory but provides a conceptual framework of user acceptance. Diffusion theory describes five factor which lead to acceptance of technology. One factor is relative advantage, provides improvement over currently available tools. Other is

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compatibility, accepted in culture and norms of society. Complexity, easy to use, and observability, how much the consequences are clear to us before use (Dillon & Morris, 1996).

Uses and gratifications of technology is more concerned with what people do with media (Katz, 1959). Peoples personal needs and media response are the major determinants of media use, which are described by their social and psychological background. Media strive with other sources of information available for people and fulfil their need of satiafaction.(Katz et al., 1974). Katz theory describes that the people needs influence what & how the media they will use and what gratification it will give to them. Basic needs, social situation, and the individuals background, such as experience, interests, and education, affect peoples ideas about what they want from media and which media best fulfill their needs. Katz, Gurevitch and Haas (1973) developed 35 needs taken from the social and psychological functions of the mass media. First important one is cognitive needs, including acquiring information, knowledge and understanding. The second one is affective needs, including emotion, pleasure, feelings. On third place they considered personal needs, including credibility, stability, and status. At fourth place there are social needs, including interacting with family and friends and other are tension release needs, including escape.

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) given by Albert Bandura (1991) has also emerged as an important predictor of internet consumption. According to this theory the expected outcomes of behavior are important determinant of its performance. It describes how individuals

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continually monitor their own behavior, judge it in relation to relevant personal and social standards and apply self reactive incentives to moderate their behavior. Through frequent repetition we become inattentive to the reasoning behind our media behavior (Rose & Eaisten, 2002).

Other theorists have proposed psychological variables that influence acceptance independently of the TAM or TRB frameworks. For example, IGBERIA describes the importance of experiences on using technology. While TORKZADEH DWYER suggest, on the basis of their data that user training influences acceptance by impacting satisfactions and user confidence. ALAVI JOACHIMSTHALER defines the factors that influence the users acceptance are thinking style, personality, demographics and situational conditions. (Dillon & Morris, 1996)

Higher the use of internet

More the information availability on internet

Higher the ease to get required material in digital form

Lower the tendency toward book reading

Lower the attraction toward printed material

So in short the use of internet reduces the book reading habits.

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Relevant Researches

Douglas & Anne (2004) conducted a research entitled The decline in adult book lending in UK public libraries and its possible causes. I: Literature review. The basic aim of the study was to find out possible reasons in declining of book reading in UK libraries. Data suggested that the average person in UK now spends less time reading books. The main reasons that they find were decrease in issue of adult fiction. .Other essential causes were less book funds were provided. Library open hours were also decreased. Another reason they found that popularity of computers and internet the results also revealed television watching as a major cause of adult book reading. There was the data to suggest that the average person in UK now spends less time reading books.
Suhail K, Bargees Z.

Suhail & Bargees (2006) conducted a research on the topic Effects of Excessive Internet Use on Undergraduate Students in Pakistan. This study was conducted to explore the positive and negative effects of excessive internet use on undergraduate students. The Internet Effect Scale (IES) specially constructed by the authors to determine the effects on seven dimensions in which one is educational problems related to internet use. The sample consisted of 200 undergraduate students at Government College University (GCU) Lahore, Pakistan. Findings indicate that the Internet could be used for enhancing one's academic skills and achievement. The range of hours spent on the internet was 1-50 per week (M =12.34, SD = 10.58). A great majority (48-84%) respondents reported positive effects of the internet, where as comparatively fewer students (21-31%) reported problems in their studies because of excessive

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Internet use. Most respondents choose on IES scale items as internet expanded my reading, writing and information processing skills, Internet has proved a helpful tool in my studies.

Dawn & Chapparro barra S (2008). This research aims to investigate reading habits of internet users. It is an online survey on whether users are read on-line material or printed material which includes five types of printed material journals, articles news, newsletters, literature, and product information. Results showed that reading printed material is effected, journals and articles were studied primted but news, newsletters, literature, and product information are more studied on-line. Internet users tend to use on-line material than printed material.

Mohammad Nazim (2008) conducted a survey which aimed to investigate the use of internet and its services by students. The study examines the information searching behaviour of Internet users. A questionnaire was formed and follow-up interviews with the postgraduate students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to gather information. A total sample of 489 from eight faculties was taken. The study evaluated information searching behaviours, their level of satisfaction, and internet resources. The data were analyzed according to the background of Internet users, Internet information searching behaviour, use of Internet resources and services, quality of Internet information, problems of the Internet access and need for Internet literacy. The study showed the results that the majority of individual were using internet since five years. Although Internet search engines were the preferred information tool for getting information other methods are also used such as databases and World Wide Web (WWW).

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Study shows that Journals and databases were the preferred information sources among the Internet users. About 60% of the individuals told that the good quality of information on the Internet made it a useful tool for educational purpose. Due to slow speed, lack of training are some of the factors affecting the use of internet.

Anna Sait & Georgia Prokopiadou (2008) conducted a research whose purpose was to investigate that how much the post-graduate students prefer information technology or other information sources such as home institution, libraries for educational purpose and to improve and broadened their knowledge. A survey wae conducted to collect the data. Questionnaires were administered to 211 education post-graduate students during the academic year of 20032004.This sample size was selected from the University Departments in the Athens area. The questionnaire contained 14 questions designed to determine students selection of primary information sources. When questioned as to whether they would use a library or the Internet as a primary information source, the vast majority (77.3%) chose the Internet. The remaining respondents (22.7%) chose the library. Of those who answered positively in regarding the Internet as the preferred source of information, the majority (72%) had selected search engines, 70.1% the Hellenic Academic Libraries Link (HEAL) and 60.2% digital libraries. Analysis showed that Greek post-graduate students chose the Internet preferably as information source for different reasons but main factors are up-to-date information, for easy access to information, for the time of day they can access the material and for fasts information retrieval.

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Kitchin & Applegate (2007) conducted survey for radiology residents to understand which information sources residents use to learn radiology. Sample consisted of 60 students. A questionnaire was given to students about what resource they prefer to study. 83% of the students respond to internet as they use internet as primary source of information. Only 15% of students prefer text books. They use different websites. They conclude that students preferred internet as a source of information for learning then text books. Use of text books for learning, 58% of students prefer case review books, while 32% prefer traditional textbooks. Of 60 residents, 8 own most or all the case review and requisite books. The statistical analysis revealed that 28% of residents read radiology textbooks daily; 45% weekly; 8% monthly; and 15% occasionally. 23% percent of students read radiology journals monthly; 15% quarterly; 37% occasionally; and 23% never. Five percent of students read medical journal monthly; 2% quarterly; 48% occasionally and 45% never.

Ritta and Attika (2006) TRKI Social Research Centre conducted a longitudinal household monitoring surveys since 1992. In 2005, due to encouragement of the National Szchnyi Library, 10 questions on reading habits and library use, as well as 10 questions on computer and Internet use were added to the permanent topics. The survey was carried out between 16th September and 15th October 2005. The sample consisted of 3674 citizens above age 18. They compared the data with results of reading surveys over the past four decades. The survey results showed that the percentage of non-readers had increased from 40% to 60% since the 1960s. 80% the of non-readers do not use computers either, When taking a closer look at

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the content of reading. The reading of newspapers and magazines has been decreasing continuously. The number of borrowed from libraries has decreased by 66%. Library use seems to an end. The data revealed that opposite to this, the use of computers has increased and this is a main reason of decrease in library use.

Mondays China Daily (April 24, 2006) showed a survey results conducted by Xinhua News Agency that the number of Chinese reading at least one book a year has been declining dramatically, as Internet draws more readers' attention from book negatively. Among 8,000 respondents to the survey, less than 50 percent said that they read at least one book a year. According to Monday's China Daily, the survey conducted since 1999, there is a continues decline in reading habits of Chinese per year.. The reader ratio has decreased from 60.4 percent in 1999. A lack of time has been the major reason reported by most of people for the decrement in reading. However, the time spent by Chinese on the Internet has kept on increasing sharply from 3.7 percent in 1999 to 27.8 percent last year, the survey showed.

Reisman (2005) conducted a research on declining importance of book and conclude that despite the continuing decline in book reading and the use of libraries among students and new generation, there is no decrease in the amount of reading but how they read is changed and because of growing internet there is no major reason to worry about the declining importance of books. People are reading as same as they read from books, but people respond now they get information from internet. He concluded that information including books will going to be digitized and libraries will still there.

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. Lee (2006) conducted a research on Effects of internet use on College Students Political Efficacy. The study examines the relationship between three types of internet use information, entertainment, and interactive contacts. The results of study showed that internet news websites are becoming a basic and major news source for college students.

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Chapter IV Methodology Research hypothesis:

Excessive use of internet reduces the book reading habits of Punjab university students. Comments on hypothesis: There are two ways of getting the required material for a research project. One way is to read books, journals and magazines for your research purpose and then find the respective material from that hard copy. This process is difficult. Its not an easy tasks to search the required material from hard copy and then to write it on the paper or to type on the computer. Instead the easiest and simple way of searching the material is to use the internet. Internet provides fast and easy way of search. Even if you want to write something from the materials you dont have to type it just copy it. That is how use of internet has reduced the book reading habits of the Punjab university students.

Operationalization of variables:
Use of internet
Dictionary Definition: The internet is the global network of computer networks allowing computers with specific software and hardware to communicate with one another. It is also a vast reservoir of information. People can find any journal, article, book, music, games and movies whatever they want on the internet.

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Internet has many uses, some are given below: 1. To find general information about a subject 2. To access information not easily available elsewhere 3. To correspond with far away friends 4. To meet people 5. To discuss their interests with like-minded people 6. To have fun 7. To learn 8. To read the news 9. To find software 10. To buy things Operational (Working) Definition: Our concern for the use of internet for students is the time that a student spend on internet.

Book Reading habits

Dictionary Definition:

People read books: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. For knowledge and information. For research purposes For report writing material For passing the exam For time passing To be updated

Operational (Working) Definition: Our concern here for book reading habits is to study magazines, articles, books, journals that students use for the accomplishment of their projects and assignments.

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Dimensions of Use of Internet:

Time dimension We are measuring only the time spend on internet, therefore the only dimension that is taken is time spend on internet. This dimension will be measured in term of hours spend on internet daily by a repondant.

Dimensions of book reading habits:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. basic reading skills understanding Skills Time factor Sources of Reading Materials Purposes of Reading

Elements of Dimensions: 1. Basic reading Skills

a. Vocabulary improvement How much a person develops his vocabulary? b. fast Reading practice How much fast a person read the books. c. Marking A Text for Main Ideas How much a person finds the main theme of the essay or book? d. Keep a Reading Notebook Does a person keep the reading material in his possession? e. Searching Capacity to find something in the reading material. 2. Understanding Skills a. important Thinking/Reading How people analyze assays and articles? b. Quality of reading How much a person can distinguish between fact and opinion in order to detect bias? c. Evaluating Source 3. Time factor a. Time which Respondents Normally Read b. Average Time Spent on Reading in a Week 4. Purposes of Reading a. Pleasure b. General information

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c. Study/Exams

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Research design:
The present research studies the effect of use of internet on book reading habits of students for this study survey research design was used. The survey research design is used to collect information by using questionnaire, given to the students.
Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of our research is Descriptive, because in our study we are going to point how students are going away from books and what internet has students tempo of reading books.
Unit of Analysis:

The research shall be conducted from individual level but all the persons shall be related to the same organization that is Punjab University.
Time Dimension:

We shall use Cross-sectional studies technique for our research, because I our study we shall get the questionnaire filled from the participants just one time. We shall not go to them again.

Target population:
In this research project the target population is currently enrolled students of University of The Punjab. The sample will be drawn from various departments of Punjab University. We are choosing this target population because our research is based Punjab university students.

Sampling procedure:
We shall use Purposive Sampling techniques to collect the data. Black & Champion (1976) defined the purposive sampling as a technique that has been handpicked by the researcher to

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fully ensure that specific elements are included they further agreed that it is plan that provided no basis for estimating how carefully the sample characteristics approximate. The parameters of the population from which the sample will be obtained (Black & Champion, 1976, p. 267) In present research, we will use non-probability purposive sampling technique because the elements to be included (only internet users) in the sample are drawn, on the basis of following inclusion exclusion criteria. The criteria will be used to select the sample are: 1. Those who use internet for 1-5 hours a day on the average. 2. Currently enrolled students of Punjab University. 3. Students of BS (semester I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. Morning and replica) 4. Students of M.Sc (semester I, II, III and IV. Morning and replica) 5. Students of age range 17 to 26 years.

Sample Size:
The sample size composed of 200 students of 18 to 26 years. We are choosing this size because there are 67 departments in the Punjab University, by 200 we are taking approximately 3 students from each department.

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Data Collection procedure:

The current research will be conducted to find out the effect of user of internet on book reading habits of students. The hypothesis is excessive use of internet reduces the book reading habits of Punjab university students. First research question and variables were defined. Then null and alternate hypothesis were made. Instrument is constructed with the help of indicators taken from theoretical framework. A questionnaire consisting of 5-point likert scale consisting of 13 statements was constructed to find out the opinion of the Punjab university students. Target population is decided that is of enrolled students of Punjab University. Official permission will be sought from the administration of the departments of Punjab University. Our group is consisted of four persons. We shall divide it into 2 parts. Both parts shall cover equal number of departments. Students shall be selected by using purposive sampling. Consent will be taken first from the participants with the help of a consent form to give them full liberty to voluntarily participate in the research. At first Pilot Study will be conducted to check the reliability & validity of the Questionnaire. After that we collect data. First of all consent forms will be given to every participant then whole instructions were clearly explained to them and make them clear the purpose of the research. In the end the questionnaire and likert scale will be administered to know the opinion of students.

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Instrument / tool for data collection:

For data collection purpose a questionnaire and a 5-point Likert scale pertaining to the variables book reading habits and use of internet by students is constructed. The questionnaire is consisted of thirteen (13) 5-point likert scale statements. One question is open ended that asks the time spend on internet daily.

Data analysis procedure:

Errors:
Since our questions from part B are statements and user has to just select one choice from five choices, the possibility of error in these questions is that the person may have missed one or more questions or he/she may have checked more than one option in one question. Question from Part A are open ended the errors shall be corrected on common sense.

Editing:
Now the question is how to correct the questionnaires that have some errors. For this purpose we have to create criteria for each of the error. 1. If the data collector acknowledges that the above discussed errors have been made, he will immediately ask the participant to correct them. If he fails to catch the errors at the spot he will try to contact the respective person later on, if he still fails to make it correct from the participant, then the following criterion shall be used.

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2. If there are more than 4 answers having errors the questionnaire shall be omitted, because if he gives all the questions strongly agree he got 20 marks at least. but he lost the expected marks by omitting these questions, and a result the category of favorable is changed. So it is better to omit that questionnaire. 3. If person has less than 4 then we shall try to fix the questions on the bases of other answers given by participants or they shall be given neutral value.

Coding:
Coding shall be given to gender, education level, income level and department. Gender will have M for male and F for Female. Education level for Intermediate I, Graduation G and for Master M. income level will have interval as poor, middle and upper middle etc. according to criteria. All 5-likert scale question will have 1 mark for strongly disagree, 2 for disagree, 3 for neutral, 4 for agree and 5 for strongly agree.

Data Entry:
We shall use excel for data entry purpose. In excel both groups shall enter their collected data while making proper tables and columns. After it there comes the stage of data analysis, we shall use excel for this purpose. Excel statistics formulas shall be used for data analysis. Different charts and graphs shall be used to represent the data.

Scoring:
For scoring purpose 1 mark for strongly disagree, 2 marks for disagree, 3 for neutral, 4 for agree and 5 for strongly agree. So if a person checks all strongly agree he gets marks 65. I a person checks all strongly disagree he gets score 13. We have created three categories highly

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favorable, medium favorable and low favorable. So according to this score a criterion is made here. Total score=65 Categories=3 If all marks disagree score is 25 and its low favorable, add 20 in it, get 45 this is medium favorable, and till end (65) highly favorable Highly favorable greater is than 45, medium favorable is greater<46 and greater than 25, and low favorable is < 26.

Data collected in the form of tables:

Table 1: Demographic statistics of sample. Frequency Sex Male 403 Female 267 Age 18 71 19 121 20 137 21 127 22 83 23 71 24 39 25 17 26 8 Table 2: Completed education of each participant Frequency FA/Fsc 337 B.A/Bsc 308 More 25 Percentage 60.14 39.86 10.6 18.06 25.45 18.36 12.39 10.6 5.82 2.54 1.19 Percentage 50.30 45.97 3.73

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Table 3: Fathers education: Nil Matric FA/Fsc B.A/Bsc M.A/Msc More Frequency 8 17 31 59 36 14 Percentage 4.8 10.3 18.8 35.8 21.8 8.5

Table 4: Mothers education: Frequency Nil Matric FA/Fsc B.A/Bsc M.A/Msc More 24 44 33 47 13 4 Percentage 14.5 27.6 20.0 28.5 7.9 2.4

Table5:Univariate table of use of internet Usage time per week Greater than 5 hours Between 2-5 hours Less than 2 hours Total Frequency 134 286 250 670 Percentage 20.00% 42.69% 37.31% 100%

Table6:Univariate table of reading habits Reading habits High Moderate Low Total Frequency 170 200 300 670 Percentage 25.37% 29.85% 44.78% 100.00%

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Table7:Bivariate table of Qualification and Opinion Greater than 5 hours f %age 83 61.94% 35 26.12% 16 11.94% 134 100.00% Use of Internet Between 2-5 hours less than 2 hours f %age f %age 56 19.58% 18 7.20% 141 49.30% 60 24.00% 89 31.12% 195 78.00% 286 100.00% 250 100.00% Total %age 25.37% 29.85% 44.78% 100.00%

Reading habits Low Moderate High Total

f 170 200 300 670

Interpretation:
We can see that 25% users of internet are having low reading habits, 29.8% users have moderate reading habits and 44% have low reading habits. Also we can see as the usage increases the reading habits decreases. So our hypothesis is true. Less see the direction of hypothesis in the fir.1.

Reading habit

Use of internet

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Chapter V Discussion
As you can see that more the use of internet lowers the reading habits. So internet has a deep impact on the reading habits of students. They prefer internet on book readings due to many reasons. The reasons are easy to use of internet, accessibility, easy to search material, fast communication, and less time needed (time saving). Students have to type the topic name in a search engine and a pool of information appears in the screen related to their topic in no time, whereas in books they have to spend a lot of time to search the material related to a topic. Internet helps students in solving their study related problems. It enables to do their assignments and projects in a better way. This increases the students performance and they get it in an easy way. Internet is a very good solution for students for their assignments. The current research findings are consistent with the previous researches. Douglas & Anne (2004) conducted research and they conclude that use of internet is a reason to decline in reading habits and library use and also in this research result reveals that use of internet reduces the reading habits. Suhail & Bargees (2006) conducted a research on effects of excessive internet use on students. They find that use of internet helps students in their studies and academic skills. Excessive use of internet effect their reading habits negatively. The results are also consistent with this research. Dawn & Chapparro barra S (2008) conducted on-line survey on internet users reading habits. Result showed that reading printed material is affected negatively, are also consistent with this research.

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Mohammad Nazim (2008) conducted survey on students internet information searching behaviour, use of internet resources and services, quality of Internet information. Their results showed that internet is a preferred source of information. Those who do not use internet, only because of lack of training. This research showed results that internet use is reducing students reading printed material. Lee (2006) conducted a research and concludes that students use more internet for news than any other source. This result is also consistent with this research because its results showed that students use internet as well as any other source for information but less with respect to internet. Reisman (2005) conducted a research to investigate decline in importance of books. Results showed that medium for reading is changed and people use more internet than books which is opposite to the findings of this research. This research shows results that students use of internet decreases their use of books. Mondays China Daily(April 24, 2006) Xinhua News Agency published their results of a survey showed that internet is dramatically and negatively effecting the reading habits of Chinese people. Time people spend on internet has been increasing since 1999 and they only read one book a year this research results are inconsistent with research also.

Kitchin & Applegate (2007) conducted survey. They conclude that students preferred internet as a source of information for learning then text books, journals. These findings are also consistent with results of this research which shows that use of internet for studies also decreases use of books, journal, articles etc.

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Ritta and Attika (2006) conducted a survey and compared it with previous surveys on reading habits and conclude that the percentage of non-readers had increased from 40% to 60% since the 1960s, 80% of the non-readers do not use computers. This shows that computer use is one of the main reasons in decline of reading habits and library use. These results are also consistent with this research. It is possible that as students use more internet, they realized that information available on internet is not reliable and internet use do not provide favorable outcomes and this increases their use of library and reading habits.

Limitations and Suggestions:

As purposive sampling strategy was used, the sample was not truly representative of the students population. The sample characteristics varied with respect to subject, session, semester, and batch and students socioeconomic status. Due to shortage of time the reliability of the scale could not be measured by doing pilot study. Sample size (N= 670) is small because short time was available. It was difficult to collect the data from a large sample within given time. As the sample consisted of some departments of Punjab University therefore the results may not be generalized to all disciplines and research have low external validity. This research is only limited to Masters and BS (Hons) students. The results might be different if those students also be in the sample who are doing PH.D and M.phill. Their use of internet researches and reading habits might be different. Students use on internet researches and reading habits might be different from students studying in annual system.

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It is suggested that further researches may focus on checking the reliability of the tool. To replicate this research sample size should be large. And simple random sampling technique should be used so the results can be generalized. Results of this research are inconsistent with previous researches. So follow up studies may provide better understanding the research problem. To increase the reading habits of students the opening hours of library should be increased. Government should provide funds to libraries and facilitate them to have good collection of books which can divert students attention again to libraries. Excessive use of internet may also prove harmful for the students, so teachers can also encourage students to read books, journals, magazines etc for their studies. Internet cannot be a replacement of books, but we cannot discourage the use of internet, because on internet latest information is available. Students should use only valid and reliable databases to get information. University should plan a strategy to take the students away from the inappropriate material which students can approach otherwise. Students can also use internet when they are free although for study purpose, in this way it will not affect the reading habits of students.

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References

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15- Jarvis, J. (2006). The book is dead. Long live the book. Retrieved Dec.11, 2008.from http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/05/19/the-book-is-dead-long-live-the-book/. 16- Kitchin, D. R., & Applegate, K. E. (2007). Learning Radiology A Survey Investigating Radiology Resident Use of Textbooks, Journals, and the Internet. Academic Radiology, 14(9), p.p 1113-1120. Retrieved Dec.11,2008. from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B75BK-4PF68P5J&_user=2248840&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2007&_alid=772144871&_rdoc=2&_fmt =high&_orig=search&_cdi=12985&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=10&_acct=C00 0056732&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2248840&md5=77eedb75cbcc7876f64 cfe4763ec93f0 17- Lee, K. M. (August 1, 2006). Effects of Internet Use on college students Political Efficacy. CyberPsychology & Behaviour. 9(4), p;p 415-422. Retrieved Dec. 11,2008. from http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.415 18- Nazim, M. (2008). Information Searchiong Behaviour in the Internet Age, A Users Study of Aligarh Muslim University.The information & Liabrary Review. 40. p.p 73-81.Retrieved Dec. 11, 2008. from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WGP-4RWFJGH1&_user=2248840&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2008&_alid=742167325&_rdoc=37&_f mt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=6828&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=610&_acct= C000056732&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2248840&md5=4a565fc002efab6f 13daf767aafcfa6a.

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19-Reisman, S. ( 2005). Declining The Importance Of Books. IT Professional, 7(4).pp.6364.Retrieved Dec.11,2008 from http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MITP.2005.85. 20- Rose, R. L., & Eastin, M. S. ( 2002). A Social Cognitive Explanation of Internet Uses and Gratifications: Toward a New Theory of Media Attendance. Communication and Technology Division, International Communication Association. Retrieved Dec.11, 2008. from https://www.msu.edu/~larose/ica03post.htm.

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23- Suhail,K., & Bargees, Z. (2006). Effects of excessive Internet use on undergraduate students in Pakistan. CyberPsychology & Behaviour,9(3), p.p 297-307. Retrieved Dec. 10, 2008 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16780397.

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Appendix A: questionnaire Consent Form:

Part A

Name----------------------Sex-------Education level ------------------Fathers Income---------------Mothers Income--------------Number of dependents---------Do you use internet? ------------------

Age-------Department----------------Fathers Education------------------Mothers Education------------------Another source of income----------Marital Status-------------------

How many hours do you spent on internet daily? -------------------

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PART B
Question 1 How much time you use internet daily Strongly Agree Agree I can understand words in context and I have developed a 2 college reading vocabulary. My speed of analyzing and studying the books is high 3 4 I am able to locate the main idea of text 5 I can organize my reading notes in order to study for a test. 6 I am able to summarize material I have read. 7 I spend more than 10 hours in studying the books weekly 8 I can analyze essays and articles critically I can recognize an authors purpose and point of view as I 9 read 10 I am able to assess the objective of the source 11 I read books for pleasure e.g. novels 12 I read books for general knowledge 13 I study books for exams Neutral
Hours

Disagree Strongly Disagree