Investigating Technophile or Technophobe Tendencies: University Students’ Attitudes Towards Technology and Internet Usage

Author(s) : *Dr. Bashir Hussain, **Dr. Asia Zulfqar

Abstract:

During the last two decades or so, the use of technology has grown exponentially throughout
the globe. In line with this trend, the use of technology in educational settings has become more
prevalent, and it is very important to understand students’ attitudes towards technology and its
usage in higher education. This research, therefore, investigates university students’ attitudes
towards technology and their internet usage in Pakistan, focusing on their technophile versus
technophobe tendencies. For this study, a survey-based descriptive and correlational research
design was employed among 613 undergraduate students from three public sector universities
in Multan. Data were collected through reliable and valid questionnaire adapted from Dudeney
and Hockly (2007). The key findings of this research revealed that students generally exhibit
more positive attitudes towards technology, especially for educational purposes. Internet use for
educational activities, such as for gathering information and for completing assignments, was
more frequent among students than for non-educational purposes. Furthermore, significant
gender differences were observed, with male students showed more positive attitudes toward
technology, but both genders displayed similar patterns for educational use. Likewise, although
living arrangements and urban-rural backgrounds also influence learning-oriented attitudes of
students towards technology but it did not significantly impact broader technological use views.
These insights suggest that educational institutions should ensure that technological resources
are accessible to all students. Likewise, enhancing digital literacy and focusing on practical
applications of technology in learning environments can bridge existing gaps and foster a more
inclusive educational experience for students.
Keywords: Technophile, technophobe, university students, internet usage, Pakistan.