Development and Validation of a Self-reported Questionnaire for Measuring Internet Search Dependence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Well-being

Background:

• Internet search is a primary tool for daily problem-solving, significantly altering information access and storage.
• Growing concern exists regarding the psychological impact of extensive internet search on users' affect, cognition, and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable tool, the Questionnaire on Internet Search Dependence (QISD), for assessing psychological changes linked to long-term internet search usage.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary QISD structure and items were derived from literature reviews, investigations, and interviews.
• Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) assessed psychometric properties and factor structure of the initial QISD version.
• Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) validated the proposed four-dimensional factor solution.

Main Results:

• EFA identified four reliable dimensions: habitual use, withdrawal reaction, trust in internet search, and externalized information storage.
• CFA confirmed that the four-dimensional model demonstrated a good fit with the collected data.
• The 12-item QISD exhibited high reliability and validity in measuring internet search dependence features.

Conclusions:

• The developed 12-item QISD is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring internet search dependence.
• This tool can aid in understanding and quantifying the psychological effects of habitual internet search behavior.
• The QISD provides a valuable preliminary measure for researchers and clinicians studying digital behavior impacts.