Controversial Issues exam 2 Part 4

Katz and Aspden vs. Kraut et al

There are no problems associated with internet use

Thomas Jerfferson's societial ideal of individual liberty, pluralism, diversity, and community

Nationally and randomly sampled 2500 persons ( and added some more interest users). Concluded that internet use has benefits: increased leisure activities, increased community enviroment, increased family and other contact.

new friendships were formed, some were later actually met

internet leads to new friendship formation and increased family contact

argue that the internet has harmful effects

is cited as saying that social interest and interaction has declined over 35 years ( We can't blme all that on the internet though, tv maybe?)

Many compare the introduction of the internet to TV though it probably has more in common with the introduction of the telephone

Accd. to kraut, is the dominant use of the internet at home

THere are strong and lasting and buffer people from emotional stress

They are superficial and of narrow focus with easily brokem bonds. Bonds formed on the internet weak.

• 1. Correlational does not prove internet use causes more social interaction
• 2. Self report data is potenially inaccurate
• 3. The same was not random or respresentative, probably was bettereducated and higher SES

was the true experiement so causality of findings can be inferred. Aslo, Kraut et al. controlled for many potenially confounding variable ( pre-exsisting conditions, stressors)

• 1. a random sample was identified and data ( depression levels) collected
• 2. internet access was then supplied for 1 year
• 3. Data was again collected

• 1. teenagers had the highest rate of internt use
• 2 Increases in loneiness and depression were observed ( through the effect sizes were modest)
• 3. Most important finding was a decline in family communication

Internet provides a readily available source of potentially incorrect or inaccurate information so one needs to be careful about online resources