Measuring Internet Users’ Satisfaction Vis the Rate of Iranians and French’s Users Dependence on Internet; A Comparative Analysis of University Students in University of Tehran and Lorrain/France

Received in: 04/13/2013

Accepted in: 11/26/2014

Introduction and problematic of research: The youth now constitute a considerable part of Internet users in the world as they spend more time on the Web than other age groups. Their objective mostly include promoting their communication skills, finding new friends, etc. Some of the unwilling consequences of the excessive Internet use, however, might lead them to some kind of dependency issues (addiction) while it might also increase their rate of satisfaction consistently. This problem is especially noticeable in educational and academic centers due to the consequences of excessive use of internet on the young users. Moreover, the subject is nowadays attractive to many researchers and some of them even believe that “Internet is changing students’ lifestyle increasingly and they suggest a substitution of the internet by off- line social actions (Frenet, Yves, 2005). Accordingly, I felt this problematic needs academic attention and I felt I could study this subject matter.

Considering the fact that internet-use may create even more serious problems than mentioned here, among users as they are connected most of the time at university, in their dormitory or in home which is accompanied by feeling of satisfaction, I decided to make my point by studying the subject among university students in two countries. This was especially of my curiosity to see how similar patterns of usage can be found in two countries with different cultures, such as that of Iran and France. Employing the survey method, I concentrated on the students of two main campuses, i.e., at the university of Tehran and university of Lorraine. In addition to determining typology of Internet users, I measured the rate of satisfaction of young students on internet. I also, measured their level of dependency on Internet use.

This paper is partly based on the results of my PhD dissertation and is an attempt to develop and argument on the satisfaction rate of Internet users and their dependence on it. The study had taken place among the students in Iran and in France aiming to explain and analyze the subject matter by using a comparative method.

Theory and Method: Theoretically, I used two approaches, first of which is normally called «Uses and Satisfaction» approach developed by Mcquail (1993). The second approach is known as «Usage and Dependence» which was developed by Rubin et. Windahl (1986). I used the first approach to account for the tendency of internet users in Iran and France to use internet for satisfaction purposes. Then I combined it with the second approach to account for processes through which dependency on internet takes place.

Methodologically, this research paper focuses on measuring the rate of satisfaction as the users work with internet. This is followed by measuring the dependency of internet users on internet use. The unit of analysis in this research is consisted of two sections; 1) internet users in University of Tehran, Iran; and, 2) internet users in University of Lorrain, France. The research method is based on application of a quantitative method that aims at comparing the two units of analysis at University of Tehran and at University of Lorraine. The basic empirical analysis is done based on two survey data, and I used Ben Youssef’s scales to measure users’ satisfaction, then it is followed by Hadhari’s dependence study that uses Test of Orman. This research has taken place in Tehran and Metz using a sample size of 300 students from the discipline of social sciences.

Findings and conclusion: In addition to distinguishing the typology of Internet users of two societies, I used a comparative method to see if the phenomenon is evident in both countries. I also tried to study and measure the rate of uses and satisfaction among students. This had to be followed by analysis of the dependency rates on Internet. The paper then indicates the differences and the similarities of the Internet users in two countries despite the cultural and social differences.

Some of the results show that approximately one third of Iranian and French internet users are satisfied with Internet. This is while French internet users (students) are a bit more satisfied with Internet than Iranian students are. In addition, the number of Internet users who are considered as dependent on internet (with a small difference) is lower than 10 % while Iranian internet users are more dependent than French internet users are. In comparison to Iranian internet users, the findings indicate that the French users use internet more frequently for educational objectives than do the Iranian students.