The Internet selective learning and the rise of…

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The Internet, selective learning, and the rise of issue specialists :

“Using national survey data (N = 1,208) in the U.S., the present study found that individuals relying upon the Internet translated their interest in the health care issue into issue–specific knowledge. However, those who depended on network TV, newspapers, and radio failed to display a high level of issue–specific knowledge, even when they were interested in the issue. The findings suggest that the Internet plays an important role in fostering issue specialists rather than generalists.”

URL : http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3888/3206

The Impact of the Internet on Information Searching and Demand for Traditional Information Resources

The Internet is an efficient information search tool whose growth may have caused a structural change in information search and acquisition behaviors.

This study investigates the effects of growing Internet accessibility on these behaviors. Using U.S. public library circulation counts to quantify changes in the use of information resources, the analysis indicates that greater Internet accessibility contributes to increased demand for traditional information sources.

That is, a complementary relationship exists between Internet and traditional sources. Further, the results suggest that limiting Internet access can reduce the demand for traditional content. These outcomes imply that improvements in Internet accessibility can have profound effects on human capital development.

URL : http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1856056