Incidence of Internet use time on academic performance in a group of university students in the city of Riobamba (Ecuador)

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between Internet usage time and the quantitative and qualitative achievement of 127 students at the university level, confronted with the information provided by 15 teachers at the same level; entire study population uses the Internet. It`s use as a study tool contributes positively to academic performance, since the student must select, analyze and understand the information found, which is corroborated by applying the Pearson Coefficient and get a value of 0.80. However, the duties developed by students with information obtained from the Internet presents a different reality: 66.67% of jobs are rated between good and fair, which shows the lack of contribution to the quality of them: mostly the teachers report that are verbatim copies of documents consulted or contain inaccurate information, making necessary the additional contribution with an innovative consultation processes, leading to critical and constructive analysis for these tasks are productive processes of knowledge development approach.