Knowledge, Skill and Usage Pattern of Internet by Undergraduate Students of College of Home Science, CCS HAU Hisar
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Date
2022-08
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CCS HAU, Hisar
Abstract
The study was purposively conducted at I C College of Home Science, CCS HAU Hisar by including a
sample of 200 undergraduate girl students (100 rural and urban each). Independent variables were
personal, economical, communicational and psychological. ICT availability, accessibility and
affordability; digital literacy and training exposure were situational variables. Knowledge and skills in
use of Internet, usage of Internet and constraints in use of Internet were dependent variables. The data
were collected with the help of questionnaire and analyzed calculating percentage, mean score,„t‟ test
and Garrett score. Majority of rural and urban students were between 20- 24 years of age, nonhostellers,
had nuclear family with 3- 5 members, 1st born, from general category and were from
science background. Majority of rural students had marginal landholding. Only a little more than
quarter of the students availed scholarship. Parents and peers were main source of information
regarding use of Internet. The rural and urban students reported average and good speed of Internet,
respectively. Maximum number of rural as well as urban students was members of online classmate
group and paid Rs. 150-349 monthly for Internet connection .More than 90.0 percent had no training to
sharpen Internet knowledge and skills. Majority had appreciative opinion about Internet. Time taken by
rural students to avail ICT facilities was more than the urban students. More number of urban students
reported good speed of connection The Internet connection was reported affordable by 60.0 percent of
the rural students and 89.0 percent urban students.
Urban students had significantly more skills of Internet use than rural students. Overall
percent knowledge score of rural and urban students was 44.0 percent and 67.4percent, respectively.
There was maximum skill gap in medium related operational Internet skills (28.1%) followed by online
meeting (21.6%) accessing and using of social media (20.7%), updating application and device
(18.0%),content related operational Internet skills (17.0%) accessing and using e mail (16.2%) and
accessing web page (13.4%). All the students used Internet daily for 3- 6 hours a day on an average.
Majority of rural students used Internet for instant messaging and online classes whereas urban
students used Internet for watching movies, series and other entertainment videos and online classes.
Total sixteen constraints i.e. seven of technological nature and nine of personal and technical nature
were perceived by the students. Interruption in network was the most severe technological constraint of
rural as well as urban students. Distant location of the Internet facility, problem in downloading,
surveillance/ privacy concern, lack of awareness about uses of e- facilities and restricted use were the
most severe constraints of rural students. Slow functioning of server, difficulty in finding relevant
information, lack of time, non- availability of required information and restricted use were the major
constraints reported by urban students.