EUGENE–University of Oregon researchers Nancy Willard and Lynne Anderson-Inman have received a $191,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate how young people make legal and ethical decisions while using the Internet.

"Many young people are using the Internet in very responsible ways. Some are not. My hope is that this research will lay the foundation for a more intelligent and in-depth approach to helping young people make good choices in their use of the Internet," Willard said.

The project will analyze how high school students approach the ethical issues involved in using information technology and using the Internet.

Two hundred high school students who have had Internet access through the home or school for a period of at least one year will fill out a questionnaire designed to investigate their knowledge of rules and their reasoning process. The students will assess the appropriateness of actions involving copyright infringements, disrespectful speech, computer security violations (hacking) and accessing or publishing potentially harmful material on the Web.

Knowledge gained from the research will be used to develop effective environmental, instructional and intervention strategies that will help students engage in ethical behavior while using these technologies.

A nationally recognized authority on issues related to ethical Internet use, Willard teaches classes in technology planning and the legal and ethical use of information technologies. She also serves as director of the Center for Responsible Use of Information Technologies, a research and outreach program in the UO College of Education’s Center for Advanced Technology in Education (CATE). Anderson-Inman is director of CATE.

The National Science Foundation supports research and education in science, engineering and technology.

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