Tool, Toy, Telephone, Territory, or Treasure of Information: Elementary school students' attitudes toward the Internet

Authors:
Chien Chou;Sen-chi Yu;Chao-hsiu Chen;Huan-Chueh Wu
Affiliations:
Institute of Education, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan, ROC;Department of Counseling and Applied Psychology, National Taichung University, 140 Min-Shen Road, Taichung 40306, Taiwan, ROC;Institute of Education, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan, ROC;Institute of Education, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan, ROC
Venue:
Computers & Education
Year:
2009

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Abstract

The purposes of this study are to investigate fifth-graders' attitudes toward the Internet based on the 5-T framework (Tool, Toy, Telephone, Territory, and Treasure of Information), and to understand whether gender makes any difference in their attitudes. The data were obtained from 2,253 Taiwan fifth-grade students. Through a confirmatory factor analysis, the 5-T model was validated and can be used to explain the corresponding five-factors which constitute Internet attitudes. According to the results, the students perceived the Internet mainly as a useful and powerful tool for their academic work and daily lives. Moreover, students strongly considered the Internet a toy, which is somewhat indistinguishable from the role of Tool. The students acknowledged the role of the Territory that they can demonstrate themselves by writing and sharing personal information online. Therefore, the Internet is good for both reading and writing information. The least weighted factor among 5-Ts student recognized is the role of Telephone. Gender differences exist in the subscales of Tool, Toy, Treasure of Information, and Telephone, but not in the Territory subscale of the Internet attitudes scale. This study further discusses and presents implications of the findings for teachers, parents, and future studies.