Uses and gratifications of the internet among college students in Kenya

Abstract

This study set to investigate college students’ uses and motives of the Internet at Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS). The hypotheses predicted that there was a positive relationship between exposure to Internet services/resources and uses/gratifications sought by KSPS students. Data was collected from 294 respondents using questionnaires, focus group discussions and content analysis of websites accessed by respondents. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 12.0. Results indicated that the most frequently used Internet services were: e-mail, World Wide Web, Instant Messaging and File Transfer Protocol. Very few respondents indicated using the e-learning resources provided. Respondents used and were motivated to use the Internet more for communication, information seeking, developing and maintaining online and social interactions than for entertainment, coping with peer pressure, escape from problems, improving personal status and aesthetic experiences. Internet interactivity was also a factor motivating respondents to use the Internet. The uses and gratifications sought by students were influenced by various demographic antecedents. The major challenges faced by students in Internet use were noted as; insufficient awareness on the educational e-resources available to KSPS library users, lack of encouragement from some lecturers and lack of adequate Internet use skills. The two hypotheses that there was a positive relationship between exposure to Internet services/resources and uses/gratifications sought by KSPS students were supported by the results of this study. College students use and get motivated to use the Internet for many purposes, least of which is for accessing the e-learning resources provided by the institution. The researcher recommends that students be trained on how to use^he Internet. Technical/ operational measures should be used to control the non-educational use of the Internet resources and services.