Internet uses and gratifications in the UAE

Abstract EN

This study investigates student motivations for and patterns of Internet use.

A 30-item questionnaire was administered to 300 female students and 100 male students from various majors at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Findings of the study suggest that over half of the respondents used the Internet daily for at least two hours, one-third for two to four hours, one-tenth for four to six hours and one-twentieth for more than six hours.

Almost 55 percent of the female respondents reported using the Internet at home, 31.5 percent on campus, and 8.5 percent in cybercafes.

Male students use the Internet at home (48.3 percent), on campus (36.2 percent), and in cybercafes (9.2 percent).

Respondents in this study use e-mail extensively (90.7 percent of the women and 92.3 percent of the men).

However, only 15.3 percent of the women and 8.1 percent of the men reported using the Internet for education and research purposes.

More than 90 percent of respondents said the Internet's most positive aspects were e-mail and telephone service.

Additionally, over half of the respondents mentioned the opportunity to enhance English language skills through Internet use and the ability to access abundant information.