Effect of cognitive problem -solving style, Internet usage, and level of interactivity on attitudes toward and recall of Web-based information

This study examined the effects of problem-solving style, level of Website interactivity, and Internet usage on an individual's attitude toward an information-driven Extension Website and subjects' recall of the information presented on that site. This study is based on a conceptual framework relating Kirton's Adaption Innovation Theory and Uses and Gratifications.;Successful problem-solving is in demand in the area of agriculture. As Extension services and communicators move to designing information online, it is cruicial that this information be presented in a form that will be usable, valuable, appropriate, and easy to recall. By understanding how problem-solving styles affect users' perceptions of Websites, with respect to such attributes as attitude and recall information, Extension, agricultural communicators, and commodity groups who are utilizing the Internet to reach audiences will be better able to develop communications processes that match audience needs in order to inform them, educate them, and effect productive change.;This study shows that problem-solving styles, coupled with an individual's Internet usage have an affect on information recall. While researchers continue to debate if interactivity affects attitude and recall of information, these findings show no individual effects of interactivity on attitude and information recall when presenting information-driven content to a young adult population. However, it was found that for interactive or non-interactive versions of an information-driven site, information recall could vary based on problem-solving style and level of Internet usage.;There are populations such as innovative problem-solvers who retain information better from the non-interactive versions of online Extension information. The more adaptive individuals will actually do better with less structure and ambiguity when working online successfully. It is also noted that for low users of the Internet, the novelty of interactivity attracts and keeps the interest of users to increase their retention of information, as supported by the literature. These findings encourage designers of information-driven sites to take inventory of how they are presenting their information to specific audiences.