Need Assessment of Establish Internet Addiction Center From Perspective of Pundits: A Qualitative Research

An extreme and harmful use of the Internet and computer games gives rise to many social, physical, and psychological challenges that disrupt people’s everyday lives. Accordingly, several countries have begun to set up Internet addiction centers. This study aimed to perform a needs assessment for establishing Internet addiction centers from the perspective of experts. In terms of data collection, the study is survey-based and descriptive. Fourteen participants were selected purposively from among faculty members of the psychology, educational science, and sociology faculty of Isfahan University. The data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Based on the results, five categories were identified: necessities and requirements, administrative and organizational issues, structural planning, public acceptance and promotion, and the barriers to the establishment of Internet addiction centers. To establish these centers, the findings indicate, it is necessary to consider administrative issues, necessities and requirements, barriers, and mechanisms for increasing public acceptance from different dimensions. Based on this study, detailed information is provided for managers to establish these centers.