The Relation Between General Intellectual Ability and Study-Related Media Use Among University Students in Economics

• In Event: 51.081 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Nine - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 51.081-2 - Learning in the Disciplines

Abstract

As the student landscape changes in an era in which it is crucial to evaluate information and facts critically, it becomes important to understand students´ media consumption in the context of their study programs and its influences. Following the g-factor theory when explaining cognitive skills such as critically dealing with information, this study looks at the relationship between general intellectual ability assessed by an intelligence test (BEFKI 11+) and the study-related media consumption of 709 first-year economics students from 25 German universities. Results from regression analyses indicate that frequency of use of and trust in certain online and print media correlate with general intellectual ability, even after controlling for several sociodemographic variables including sex, age and migration background.

Authors

• Judith Jitomirski, Humboldt-University

• Olga Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz

• Jasmin Schlax, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz

• Carla Kühling-Thees, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

• Roland Happ, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz

• Stefan Schipolowski, Humboldt University

• Hans Anand Pant, Humboldt University - Berlin