Use of Internet as Sources of Information for Purpose of Rearing - Differences between Korean and U.S. Parents -

보육 및 양육의 정보자원으로서 인터넷 활용에 관한 연구 - 한국과 미국 부모의 비교 -

The purposes of this study were 1) to investigate parental amounts of Internet use for purpose of rearing 2) to investigate their environment and preparation level to use Internet as educational information source 3) to investigate whether there are differences between Korean and U.S. parents in environment, level of preparation, and amounts of use of Internet for purposes of child rearing 4) to find out the factors of use of Internet for purposes of child rearing. The questionnaire used in this survey included five sections : background, environment, preparation, amount of total Internet use, and amount of Internet use for purposes of child rearing. Participants were 282 parents (128 American; 154 Korean) with at least one 3~ to 7-year-old child. Findings revealed that parents used the Internet frequently, but they did not frequently use the Internet for purposes of child rearing. There were differences between Korean and U.S. parents in environment, level of preparation, and amount of Internet use for purposes of child rearing. The main factor that affected use of the Internet for purposes of child rearing was 'trustworthiness of Internet information'. Finally, it was suggested the implications for better Internet use for purpose of rearing from the findings.