“EFFECT OF GENDER AND INTERNET USE ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AMONG THE MANAGEMENT STUDENTS” Manoj Kumar Pandey* Ph. D. Scholar, Department of Psychology, Kumaun Univerisity, Almora Campus. *Corresponding Author Dr. Aradhana Shukla Professor & Head, Department of Psychology, Kumaun Univerisity, Almora Campus Original Research Paper Psychology Introduction: Problematic use internet have sought huge attention of researchers to delineate its impact on various inter and/or intrapersonal aspects of human behaviour and health. Literature reflects that excessive use of internet has adverse effect on health, work, academics, sleeping and eating habit (Spada, 2014). It is positively associated with discomfort, anxiety, depression, poor life style and poor quality of life (Tran et al., 2017). Prior researches have come a conclusion that excessive use of internet has adverse impact on the offline social, familial or interpersonal relationship (Kraut, Mukhopadhyay, Szczypula, Kiesler, & Scherlis, 2000; Douglas et al., 2008; Drussel, 2012). However, impact of excessive internet use on interpersonal communication is a less studied phenomenon. Once having developed a habit of excessive or high use of internet, individual spends more time and efforts in online activities i.e. chatting, watching online videos, playing online games, surfing, online shopping, viewing pornographic material etc. While spending more time online, simultaneously one has to cut off from offline activities, interactions and relationship. In a study, online interaction was found to decrease the desire for offline interaction with people (Al-khaddam, 2013). This withdrawal or reduction of offline interaction is assumed to have an adverse impact on the offline interpersonal communication competence or skills of an individual. On other hand previous studies indicate gender difference in context of interpersonal communication (Bylund & Makoul, 2002; Furumo, Buxton, Pillis, Higa & Furumo, 2014). However, there is a gap in literature regarding which of the two genders is equipped with better interpersonal communication competence. Adequate interpersonal communication is not only a crucial aspect of healthy interpersonal relationship but also one of the indirect key factors of mental well being. Therefore, the present study was conducted to see the impact of gender and internet use on interpersonal communication. Objectives: The present study was conducted with objectives whether gender and level of internet use affect the interpersonal communication and to evaluate the interaction effect of these two variables for interpersonal communication among the management students. Method Sample The final sample of study consisted of 120 students of B. B. A. from 3 management colleges, in Raipur, C. G. Based on 2×2 factorial design, sample included 60 participants for each gender, which was further subcategorized in high and average internet users based on the average score of Online Cognition Scale (Davis, Flett & Besser, 2002). In this way each of the four cells included 30 participants. Participants were voluntary and it required the following criterion: management undergraduate students aged between 18 to 24. Mean age of male participant was 18.90 (SD=.93) and of female participants was 19.11 (SD=.97). Tools Socio-demographic data sheet It is semi-structured, performa prepared by the researchers was used to take information about socio-demographic variables like age, gender, education, monthly family income, residence and family types. Online Cognition Scale (OCS) This scale was developed by Davis, Flett and Besser (2002) to measure the problematic internet use. It has 36-items rated by respondents on a seven point Likert scales and scored as 1 to 7 for strongly disagree to strongly disagree. It secured high internal consistency as a total measure of problematic internet use (a=0.94). Item-total correlations were highly significant, ranging from 0.47 to 0.80. This scale was used to measure levels of internet use and to categorize the participants into high and average user based on average score of internet use on this scale. Communicative Competence Scale (CCS) Wiemann (1977) developed this scale to measure communication competence and it was used in present study to measure interpersonal communication. Participants are asked to respond the items in context of offline interactions. This scale has been standardized on college student population. It has 36 items, endorsed by respondents on Likert scales that range from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1). Item 4, 8, 11, 12, and 28 are reverse-coded before summing the 36 items. The higher score reveals the better communication ability. This scale is reliable and valid (Wiemann, 1977; Cupach & Spitzberg, 1983; Query, Parry & Flint, 1992). Procedure Data collection took place in three management colleges in Raipur, between April to June 2017 after approval of administration of the institutes. All questionnaires were administered to students of B. B. A. after briefing about the purpose of the study and receiving consent from them to participate in the study. A non-random convenience sampling method was chosen to select the students for the study. The data was collected from more than 200 participants and data of only 120 participants was included in the analysis fulfilling the high or average internet use for both genders on the basis of 2×2 factorial design. Data was processed and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 20 versions. Results Data were analyzed in 3 stages and they are given below. 1. Socio-demographic comparison in relation to gender and internet use In correspondence with the objectives of the study socio demographic variables were compared in context of the independent variables of the present study i.e. gender and levels of internet use i.e. high vs normal users. Chi square was calculated to see the difference in groups. There was no significant gender difference on residence (χ2=.833, p=.36), The objectives of the present study were to find out the main and interaction effect of gender and internet use on interpersonal communication among management students. A sample of 120 students (60 male and 60 female) with average (30 for each gender) and high internet user (30 for each gender) was employed in this study based on 2×2 factorial design. Tools used in the study were socio-demographic data sheet, online cognition scale and communicative competence scale. Results of the current study indicated that gender and internet use had significant main and interaction effect on interpersonal communication among the management undergraduates. ABSTRACT KEYWORDS : Gender, Internet Use, Interpersonal Communication. INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH 185 Volume-8 | Issue-1 | January-2018 | 4.894 86 18 ISSN - 2249-555X | IF : | IC Value : .