Masters Degrees (Information Science)

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An empirical study of the correlation between online media use and academic performance
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Leysens, Jean-Louis; Le Roux, Daan B.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Modern online media has reached high levels of engagement amongst a particular group: the Millennials. This group display characteristically high levels of immersion with online media and have interspersed use with daily activities in such a way that some studies have identified constant use. Online media represent the possibility of many different activities for the user. Some activities may be described as relatively hedonic or utilitarian an area of use intention which this study investigates. Due to the high levels of engagement amongst the Millennials (typically young adults or teenagers) the effects of use has attracted considerable amounts of research as documented in the literature reviewed. This research draws particularly from efforts by Assoc. Prof. Reynol Junco in this area. In this study, the task performance as indicated by academic performance is a core focal point. A significant, negative correlation was demonstrated for media use in the lecture context. It is conjectured, from the findings, that the best explanation for online media's effect on task performance is limited attentional resources which create a cognitive bottleneck.