Internet addiction and three cognitive functions

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation is to study the effect of excessive use of internet upon cognitive performance (working memory, problem solving and Abstract reasoning) of adolescents. In the present study a sample of 200 adolescents, age range from 12 to 18 years was taken from Prem Vidyalaya Girls Inter College Dayalbagh, Agra and Baluni Public School, Agra. Out of 200 adolescents, 100 students both boys and girls were randomly treated as internet addictors and 100 were treated as non-addictors. Both the groups were matched on the basis of socio-economic status, age and education. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Young (1996) was used to assess the internet addiction. To measure working memory Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), developed by David Wechsler (2004), has been used. Problem Solving Ability Test by Dubey (1971), is used to measure the problem solving ability of internet adictors and non-addictors and the Differential Aptitude Test (1947) for Abstract Reasoning was used to measure the abstract reasoning of internet addictors and non-addictors. t-test was used for measuring the cognitive performance (working memory, problem solving and abstract reasoning) of internet addictors and non-addictors. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between internet addictors and non-addictors on working memory test (P > 0.05). There is marked significant difference between internet addictors and non-addictors on problem solving behaviour (p < 0.01), and there is a significant difference between internet addictors and non-addictors on abstract reasoning ability, (p < 0.01).