Effects of Internet use on self-efficacy: perceived network-changing possibility as a mediator

  • Authors:

  • Kaichiro Furutani;Tetsuro Kobayashi;Mitsuhiro Ura

  • Affiliations:

  • Hijiyama University, Faculty of Contemporary Culture, 4-1-1 Ushidashinmatchi, Higashi-Ward, Hiroshima-city, Hiroshima, Japan;National Institute of Informatics, Information and Society Research Division, 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan;Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima-city, Hiroshima, Japan

  • Venue:
  • AI & Society - Special Issue: Social intelligence design: a junction between engineering and social sciences
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

The effect of Internet use as a mediating variable on self-efficacy as it relates to the cognition of network-changing possibility (i.e., connecting people or groups with different social backgrounds) was examined. The results showed that Internet use (i.e., the frequency of sending e-mail, friends made on the Internet) had a positive effect on the cognition of network-changing possibility. The cognition that it is possible to connect people with different social backgrounds by using the Internet also had a positive effect on self-efficacy. On the other hand, the cognition that it is possible to find people or groups who share beliefs and interests by using the Internet negatively affected self-efficacy. Hence, it was found that the effect of Internet use on self-efficacy was different as a function of cognition of network-changing possibility.