Friday, May 7, 1999 Published at 18:22 GMT 19:22 UK
Students online: Lying, cheating...
A quarter of the students flirt on the Net (Photos: Bloomsburg)
By Gary Eason
Students at a big American university are using the Internet for their work - partly to cheat - and for visiting sex sites and chat rooms.
Almost all of the 611 students who responded to a survey were using the Net for genuine educational or work purposes and to keep in touch with friends and relatives.
The research was done by Dr Tim Rumbough of the Department of Communication Studies at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, who attaches a deal of importance to understanding how people are using computers to communicate. His report is in the spring issue of College & University Media Review.
It is a recognised leader in technology. Even so, one finding is that a small but significant number of students are not using e-mail, for example.
One lesson from that is that lecturers cannot yet assume that it is a reliable way to reach those on their courses.
"The results suggest that it may be important for colleges and high schools to require all students to obtain basic computer literacy - such as using e-mail and accessing Web pages - as soon as possible to enhance their education," Dr Rumbough said.
But it is the seamier side of the Net that turns up the more surprising findings.
About 15% of the students reported that they had used the Internet to cheat - which might be done for instance by going to Websites set up for the purpose, where they could access other students' essays, download them and hand them in as their own work.
"That should be a big concern for teachers, for administrators and even for parents.
"The answer to the problem is making sure the teachers are aware of these same sites. That way they will know what's out there and what to watch out for."
A third of the students had accessed sexually-related material, and 19%, sex chat rooms.
The most surprising aspect of that for Dr Rumbough is that more than two thirds of those taking part in the survey were female - he would have expected the use of sex sites to be more of a male trait.
The students were asked how often they did such things as pretending to be a different person, which 20% did at least sometimes, or using an alias - which 57% had done.
Disturbingly, 11% had accessed sites sponsored by racist groups, the same number had found descriptions of how to make or use illegal drugs, and 8% had been reading about making illegal weapons.
Some of those visits might have been for legitimate purposes, perhaps to do with a class project, or purely out of curiosity. The acquisition of information does not necessarily show an intent to use it for illicit purposes.
But he still finds it troubling.
"I think that really ought to be looked at further - why are these students going to these sites?"