Verbal and visual reasoning in relation to patterns of Internet use

The purpose of this paper is to examine cognitive differences between frequent and infrequent Internet users. Theoretically, culturally‐valued use of the Internet is related to cognitive (i.e. intellectual) ability.

A total of 406 college students completed measures of verbal reasoning, visual reasoning, and patterns of Internet use.

Significant group differences in visual reasoning consistently favored frequent Internet users (e.g. in terms of use of search engines and playing games online). With respect to visiting chat rooms and downloading music, however, infrequent users demonstrated better verbal reasoning than frequent users. Findings support the conclusion that extensive and appropriate use of the Internet is associated with increased human capacity to reason.

Generalization of findings is limited because college students may not necessarily reflect the general population. Results require confirmation with other measures of cognitive ability.

Internet use is not simply the ability to manipulate a set of physical tools (i.e. devices and applications); it is the ability to execute a set of cognitive tools (e.g. verbal and visual reasoning). Apprehension regarding the potential hazards of Internet use may legitimately be narrowed to individuals with limitations, relative to peers, in cognitive ability.

This is the first empirical investigation that links verbal and visual reasoning with patterns of Internet use.