First Monday

University Internet cafes: One more cup of information for the road by Tayfun Tanyeri, Cem Çuhadar, Mübin Kiyici, and Ahmet Naci Çoklar



Abstract
Internet cafés have become main centers for information access in Turkey. Recently universities have started their own Internet cafés. The purpose of this study was to identify how students used Internet cafés in universities and the problems they faced when using these cafés. Basicly, Turkish university students used Internet cafés for academic activities; they found the service fees rather high.

Internet cafés sind Hauptzentren für Informationen–Zugang in der Türkei geworden. Heutzutage haben alle Universitäten begonnen ihre Internetcafés zu öffnen. Der Zweck dieses Forschung–Studiums sollte identifizieren, wie Universität–Studenten Internet cafés in ihrer Universität benutzen und mit welchen Problemen sie konfrontiert sind, als sie den Internet benutzen. Das Hauptergebnis zeigte, daß die türkischen Studenten die Internetcafés für akademische Aktivitäten verwenden und sie fanden die Service-Gebühren ganz hoch. Die Studie versucht, aufzuzeigen, wie die Zunkunft der Internetcafes in der Türkei wohl aussehen wird.

 

Contents

Introduction
Purpose and methodology
Findings and results
Conclusion

 


 

Introduction

Turkey’s first experience with Internet started in 1990 with EARN (European Academic and Research Network). With this first attempt, Ege University had connections internationally with Pisa and Montpellier Universities. The first national connection Ege University realized was with Anadolu and Yildiz Technical Universities. The second attempt was realized in 1993 via Middle East Technical University. This connection was used for a long time, until the universities started to provide their connections via ULAKNET, an academical initiative, in 1997. It is only after ULAKNET, that a speeder and a commercial connection TTNET started to provide service to larger populations (Odabasi, 2005). There were 600,000 users in 1997 whereas it reached six million in 2005 (Internet World Stats, 2005). The estimated population of uers will reach 12 million in 2010 (Turk.Internet.Com, 2004).

Examining Internet users in Turkey, 41.2 percent access the Internet in “Internet cafés” (DIE, 2004). Additionally, 41.1 percent access the Internet in their offices and 32.3 percent access the Internet in their homes (Figure 1).

The access environment of Internet users in Turkey

Figure 1: The access environment of Internet users in Turkey.

Students in Turkey use the Internet services with higher level percentage than the other user groups (Figure 2).

Internet users in Turkey according to the workforce

Figure 2: Internet users in Turkey according to workforce.

A closer examination of the statistics notes that university students (graduate/postgraduate) use Internet services at a higher level percentage than the other groups (Figure 3).

Educational level of Internet users in Turkey

Figure 3: Educational level of Internet users in Turkey.

Turkish entrepreneurs have opened Internet cafés on almost every street in major cities. Internet cafés can be described as one–room environments with 10–20 computers connected to Internet. In Turkey users can benefit from a snack or a drink (non–alcoholic) while connecting to the Internet (Odabasi, 2003).

With the increase in the number of commercial Internet cafés, universities started their own cafés. University students use these Internet cafés to access the Internet since only 26.2 percent of students have access to computers and the Internet in their homes (Golge and Ari, 2002). The high cost of computers and Internet services — compared to an average Turkish university student’s income — means that these cafés are a logical alternative.

University Internet cafés can be characterized as Internet cafés as one might find commercially but they are located on university campuses and are specifically designed to serve the academic community. University Internet cafés have several advantages compared to public Internet cafés. University Internet cafés provide their targeted audiences with access to online databases licensed for sole use by the academic community. These databases are not available in public Internet cafés. Additionally, there are additional facilities in University Internet cafés — such as preparing assignments, watching films, and downloading files — which are not supported in public Internet cafés. Printing costs and other media are less expensive compared to public Internet cafés.

Many universities in Turkey are now planning to open these cafés to the public. This study examines the use of university Internet cafés by students’ and the problems they face in these cafés. Understanding patterns of use in these Internet cafés will assist university administrators in their future plans.

 

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Purpose and methodology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of university Internet cafés by university students and the problems they face in this environment.

A sample was recruited through three demographically and geographically diverse cities in Turkey — Eskisehir, Sakarya and Konya. This study is a pilot project for a nationwide study; hence the sample was organized to present the country in some fashion so the universities and the researchers were chosen based on out collective experiences at other institutions in Turkey.

 

Table 1: Profile of respondents
    Number Percent of total
Gender Male 180 61
Female 115 39
Universities Selcuk University 140 47.5
Sakarya University 78 26.4
Anadolu University 77 26.1
Faculty Education 103 34.9
Engineering 78 26.4
Business administration 24 8.2
Vocational high school 22 7.4
Science and art 16 5.4
Technical education 13 4.4
Communication 8 2.7
Law 8 2.7
Institute 5 1.7
Open faculty 1 0.3
Not specified 17 5.8
Grade Prep 4 1.4
First year 81 27.5
Second year 82 27.8
Third year 78 26.4
Senior 50 16.9

 

Altogether 295 respondents participated in this project. The questionnaire was constructed by doctoral students in Anadolu University’s Computer and Educational Technology department as a requirement for the class “BTO615 Article Research”.The questionnaire for this study was developed after a rigorous literature review. A questionnaire with 56 items was sent to experts for review. Based on their comments and approval, a final questionnaire was constructed.

The questionnaire contained five major parts. The initial part asked for personal information about gender, university, faculty and grade. Section two identified knowledge of the Internet and use of Internet cafés. The third part examined which search engines were in use. Section four investigated reasons for using Internet cafés. Finally the last section asked what kinds of problems students encountered in Internet cafés.

 

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Findings and results

As can be seen in Table 2, only a minority of students surveyed (30.8 percent) took a course on computers before their use of Internet cafés. A majority of students are using Internet cafés — 123 respondents (41.7 percent) indicated that they frequent cafés several times a week, 78 respondents ( 26.4 percent) answered once a day and 7 respondents (2.4 percent) answered several times in day. Many students are regular patrons of Internet cafés.

 

Table 2: Knowledge and routines of respondents
    Number Percent of total
Computer courses “I Have taken” 91 30.8
“No I haven’t taken” 202 68.5
Not specified 2 0.7
Frequency of use — university Internet cafés Once a month 30 10.2
Once a week 57 19.3
Several times a week 123 41.7
Once a day 78 26.4
Several times in day 7 2.4
Time spent in university Internet cafés Less than an hour 42 14.2
1–2 hours 201 68.1
3 hours or more 51 17.3

 

It is interesting that a majority of students use Internet cafés in the range of one to two hours. 1 hour to 2 hour by 201 respondents (68.1 percent) and 51 respondents (17.3 percent) spent 3 hour or more. Adomi, et al. (2004) found at Delta State University in Nigeria that a majority of students (88 percent) used the Internet café one hour or less. There might be some “universal” limit for student use based on schedules and other demands.

 

Table 3: Kinds of sites visited
 NumberPercent of total
Education18462.4
News16355.3
Chat9231.2
Sports7726.1
Games5920.0
Shopping3712.5
Other9532.2

 

On the kinds of sites visited, these results are not surprising. University Internet cafés are filtered and monitored, so there may be some modification of use as a result. It would be interesting to compare the results for the same participants examining their use of digital information in public Internet cafés.

 

Table 4: Search engine preferences
  NumberPercent of total
GlobalGoogle28696.9
Yahoo16154.6
MSN Search4314.6
InfoSpace31
Ask Jeeves20.7
About20.7
CNET2 0.7
OnWashington10.3
LocalMynet19666.4
Arabul6622.4
E–kolay4414.9
Netbul3812.9
Nerede.com3511.9
Arama.com3411.5
Superonline3210.8
Altanvista.com186.1
Arama.cc41.4
Bigglook31
Other72.4

 

Google and Yahoo were the most popular “global” search engines used by the participants. For local searches, students seemed to prefer Mynet above all others. Adomi, et al. (2004) found that Yahoo and Google were the most used at Delta State University in Nigeria.

 

Table 5: Reasons for using the Internet
 NumberPercent of total
Doing assignments24984.4
Browsing academic information23479.3
Downloading programs22977.6
Following news22174.9
Printing21773.6
Communicating19867.1
Surfing17258.3
Chatting14147.8
CD writing11539
Participating in online classes8027.1
Playing games7625.8
Online banking4515.3
Watching movies4414.9
Shopping3612.2

 

Turkish students seem to largely use the Internet in universities for academic pursuits, such as completing assignments for classes, downloading and saving files, and printing as well as communicating with colelagues and friends. Adomi, et al. (2004) found in Nigeria that communicating (sending and receiving e–mail) dominated, followed by browsing for academic information.

 

Table 6: Problems arising from the use of the Internet in university Internet cafés
 NumberPercent of total
“Sound system is insufficient”18362
“Service fees are expensive”13144.4
“Lack of different technologies”12341.7
“Proxy server is very rigid”11137.6
“Number of computers are insufficient”10234.6
“Time is restricted” 98 33.2
“I can’t find software which I need”9532.2
“Computers are frequently damaged”8528.8
“Staff not adequate for technical support”8428.5
“Physical environment is not adequate”8328.1
“Provided services not adequate”7023.7
“Settlement is not adequate”4314.6

 

Two problems emerged from the study. The physical environment of the cafés was certainly a concern (“Sound system is insufficient”). Not surprisingly, fees were also an issue. Any costs to improve the physical setting of the cafés will only lead to higher costs, so these problems are not easily solved.

 

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Conclusion

The number of young people studying in Turkish universities is over 1.4 million (MEB, 2005); every year around 400,000 students ente the university system. The Internet is an important educational tool for these students and will only grow in use in the future. Hence university administrators should llok at ways of improving the Internet experience for students. Our study leads us to several recommendations:

Universities, as centers for knowledge and information, have an excellent opportunity to transform Internet cafés into active and vital educational operations. In the global information economy, it will ultimately best serve Turkey’s future and the personal goals of students. End of article

About the authors

Tayfun Tanyeri is a doctoral student in Computer and Instructional Technologies Department of Education Faculty in Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey. His research interest is in web based learning of higher education students.

Cem Çuhadar is a doctoral student in Computer and Instructional Technologies Department of Education Faculty in Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey. His research interest is in mobile technologies in education.

Mübin Kiyici is a doctoral student in Computer and Instructional Technologies Department of Education Faculty in Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey. His research interest is in technological literacy.
Address correspondence to: Mübin Kiyici, BOTE Egitim Fakultesi, Anadolu Universitesi 26470 Eskisehir, Turkey.
E–mail: mkiyici [at] anadolu [dot] edu [dot] tr

Ahmet Naci Çoklar is a doctoral student in Computer and Instructional Technologies Department of Education Faculty in Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey. His research interest is technology standarts in education.

 

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Prof. Dr. H. Ferhan Odabasi, for all the support and inspiration she gave us.

 

References

Esharenana E. Adomi, Omedeko Faith Sarahand Otolo Patience Uzezzi, 2004. “The use of Internet café at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria,” Library Hi Tech, volume 22, number 4, pp. 383–388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07378830410570485

DIE, 2004. “Turkey’s Statistical Yearbook,” at http://www.die.gov.tr/yillik/yillik_2004.pdf, accessed 12 May 2005.

Esra Golge and Mine Ari, 2002. Universite Ogrencilerinin Universite Disinda Bilgisayar ve Internet Kullanma Durumları. VIII. “Turkiye’de Internet” Konferansi. 19–21 Aralik, at http://inet-tr.org.tr/inetconf8/bildiri/135.doc, accessed 12 May 2005.

Internet World Stats, 2005. “Middle East Internet Usage and Population Statistics,” at http://www.Internetworldstats.com/stats5.htm#me, accessed 12 May 2005.

MEB, 2005. “Numerical Data of National Education for 2003–2004,” at http://apk.meb.gov.tr/, accessed 29 June 2005.

F. Odabasi, 2005. “Parents’ Views On Internet Use,” Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, volume 4, number 1, at http://www.tojet.net/articles/415.htm, accessed 12 May 2005.

H.F. Odabasi, 2003. “Internet Cafés: A New Model of Information Access in Turkey,” In: Society for Information Technology Teacher Education International Conference Annual, pp. 1040–1042.

Turk.Internet.Com, 2004. “Internet Kullanici Sayisi DPT’ye gore 10 Milyon,” at http://www.turk.internet.com/haber/yazigoster.php3?yaziid=11214, accessed 2 April 2005.

 


Editorial history

Paper received 27 February 2006; accepted 17 April 2006.


Creative Commons License
This work is dedicated under a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication.

University Internet cafés: One more cup of information for the road by Tayfun Tanyeri, Cem Çuhadar, Mübin Kiyici, and Ahmet Naci Çoklar
First Monday, Volume 11, Number 5 — 1 May 2006
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