Home > News > February 2005 > 10-Feb-2005

83% class the Internet as an important learning tool, says survey

A new MORI survey on trends in web use in the UK has found that over 80% of respondents see a role for the Internet in learning new things.

The overwhelming majority of people surveyed (94%) agree that it is important for adults to continue to learn as they get older, with 83% classing the Internet as an important learning tool. 59% of those who have ever used the Internet search for specific information in connection with a hobby or interest, while 40% have done so in connection with their own education, and 25% in connection with their own children’s learning.

The findings on attitudes to learning were part of a wide-ranging look at the issues of reliability of information found on the Internet, and the extent to which users feel they can trust the information they find there. The survey found that the reputation of an organisation and the trustworthiness of the content of websites are important factors in people’s attitudes. Information provided via the websites of more established organisations such as museums, libraries and archives are most likely to gain a great deal or fair amount of trust from people.

Among the other findings uncovered by the survey, which was commissioned by the Common Information Environment (CIE) group, were:

• Most of the population is aware of the Internet to some degree, with just under half of all respondents (49%) saying they know at least a fair amount about it
• 92% of Internet users say that reliability of content is an important factor, including 63% saying it is very important
• Home is the place from which people most commonly access the Internet, with 80% of current users saying that they go online most often from there
• 53% of all respondents go online at least once a week, including 30% who do so every day
• 3% of users access the Internet via mobile phones or GPRS as their preferred means of access
• Over half of all current users (54%) of the Web use it as their preferred information source.
• 59% of all those surveyed are confident about Internet use, and three quarters of respondents say that they find it easy to get access to the Internet

"This new study is a goldmine of information on users’ (and non-users’) perceptions of the Internet and the resources and services it offers," said Chris Batt, Chief Executive of MLA and the Chair of the CIE. "Anyone interested in how this new medium is changing our daily lives will want to see these data, and the report provides the Common Information Environment partners with vital new insights that will direct and focus our future work programmes."

The Common Information Environment group is a coalition of public sector information organisations who aim to help create a cross-sectoral partnership to realise the full potential of the Internet for all UK citizens. These organisations include those funding this research; the British Library, DfES (Department for Education & Skills), JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee), MLA (Museums, Libraries & Archives Council), and SLIC (Scottish Library & Information Council).

External link

For more information about the survey visit the CIE web site at www.common-info.org.uk/

Please note: Training Reference is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

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