Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: Current study objects to investigate; 1. how democratic attitude of youth is being affected by their attitude towards internet, 2. what is the democratic attitude of the youth according to the usage of internet? and 3. provision of internet benefits for democratic consolidation. Methodology: In this regard a survey was conducted among the students of computer science and information technology departments/ institutions of four universities of Pakistan belonging to various provinces of the country, such as; University of Sindh, Jamshoro; Punjab University Lahore; Balochistan University Quetta and University of Peshawar. In total 600 questionnaires were distributed. Researchers became able to collect back 482 questionnaires. Out of these questionnaires 427 questionnaires were found valid after deducting missing values and outliers. Findings: Current study finds a significant and positive correlation between student’s attitude towards the subscale of internet such as; using internet in research, using internet in social interaction, liking to use internet in teaching, using internet in sharing information; and the subscale of democracy like; inclination to democracy; devotion to democracy and qualities of democracies; Adverse to the positive relation, this study also finds a negative correlation between negative view of democracy, using internet in research and liking to use internet in teaching. The study claims that merely laws and regulations are not sufficient to fulfill democratic needs but democratic education and values must be enhanced individually and collectively. Furthermore, it finds internet as a most powerful tool to highlight loopholes in the system. Applications: Current study may help to enhance the positive use of internet in democratic process generally and in electoral process particularly. Moreover, study contributes in understanding the attitude of young generation towards internet and its linkage with government and democratic issues.

Keywords: Attitude, Democracy, Informational Technology, Internet, Pakistan