Consumer education through the internet

This study was planned and carried out to determine the availability of ConsumerEducation through the Internet and the efficiency of the education model prepared. Thevisitors at the address of (www.aybala.web.tr) where ?Consumer Education Model throughthe Internet? takes place and 320 consumers in total consist of the sampling of the study.Quantitative data of the study were gathered by experimental designs and qualitative data ofsingle group pre and post test model were gathered by way of group interviews. It wasdetermined that the knowledge of the consumers concerning the issues mentioned at ?theAchievement Test? was increased after they participated in the ?Consumer Education Modelthrough The Internet? (p < 0.001). It was found that the difference between the knowledge ofthe working and non-working consumers concerning the issues taken place at ?theachievement test? and their achievement test access scores was significant (p < 0.001). Non-working consumers participated in the education benefited from the education moreefficiently than the ones non-working. It was determined that the difference between theknowledge of the male and female consumers concerning the issues taken place at ?theachievement test? and their achievement test access scores was not significant (p > 0.05) andthat difference for the knowledge of the consumers depending on the age groups concerningthe issues taken place at ?the achievement test? and their achievement test access scores wasnot significant (p < 0.001). The age group of 21 and below benefited more compared to theother consumers at the other age groups and 28 and over benefited less than the other agegroups. When we applied Tukey test to determine a significant difference between whichgroups, we found that there was a significant difference between the consumers at the agegroups of 21 and below and those at the age group of 28 and over, and between the ones atthe age group of 22-24 and 28 and over. Difference at the knowledge of the consumersdepending on the education status concerning the issues taken place at ?the achievement test?and their achievement test access scores was significant (p < 0.001). It is possible to say thatthe consumers with the education of high school or less benefited from ?Consumer EducationModel through the Internet? more efficiently compared to the other consumers. Also, thedifference between the graduates of high school and less and graduates of BA and masterswas significant. Difference at the knowledge of the consumers depending on occupationstatus concerning the issues taken place at ?the achievement test? and their achievement testaccess scores was significant (p < 0.001). While the consumers of self employment benefitedmore from the education, academicians benefited less. The analysis of Tukey test shows thatthe difference between consumers of academicians and students, academicians andconsumers of free employment, and civil servants and free employed consumers wassignificant. The consumers participated in the group interviews pointed out that beinginteresting of the issue and that the content of the education covers knowledge usable at dailylife was the positive side of the model while the lack of liveliness and fewer examples are thenegative side of it. The participation of the consumers into ?Consumer Education Modelthrough the Internet? shows their need for Consumer Education and interest in the issue. Thisresult may show consumers? willingness and open mindedness to new methods for the futureapplication. Therefore, with the supposition that they will participate in consumer educationmodels through the Internet, there is a need for consumer education sites giving educationthrough the Internet in our country. Consumer education through the Internet should becomewidespread. Besides, what is recommended is that the future consumer education should begiven by both traditional methods and distance learning methods and a new study should becarried out to provide a comparison between the two methods.Key words: Distance education, education through the Internet, consumer education,consumer education through the Internet