Online cognition scale: self-awareness - Stop It Now

Skip to content

Confidential helpline

Concerned about yourself

Concerned about someone else

Self-help, information and support for those concerned about their inappropriate thoughts or behaviour.

Online offender behaviour programmes

Information and support for those concerned about the behaviour of another adult or those concerned about a child or young persons behaviour or wellbeing.

An adult’s thoughts or behaviours

Concerned about the behaviour of another adult?

Support and advice

Group work programme

Family and Friends Forum

Child or young person’s sexual behaviour?

Child who may have been abused or exploited?

Help for professionals

Safeguarding and disclosure

Additional support organisations

Creating safer places

Working with partners

We can support anyone with a concern about child sexual abuse and its prevention via our self-help resources, programmes and helpline.

Deterrence Campaign

History of the international Stop It Now movement

Frequently asked questions

As a charity, we rely on the kindness and generosity of people like you to support our vital work to prevent child sexual abuse. And right now, we need your help more than ever.

By donating, fundraising, or simply spreading the word about our work, your support will have a huge impact.

Fundraise for us

Events and appeals

Corporate partnerships

Charitable trusts and foundations

Confidential Helpline

Home Online cognition scale: self-awareness

About this exploration

This exploration is designed to allow you to understand your use of the Internet. You should take note of the following points before you start:

You will be shown 36 statements and asked to rate from 1-7 whether you strongly agree or disagree with them.
You will be shown one statement at a time.
You cannot go back to change your response to a previous statement.
At the end you will be shown your results and told how to interpret them.

This is a version of the Online Cognition Scale developed by Davis, Flett and Besser (2002) and used here with kind permission of the authors.

Few people love me other than those I know online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I feel safest when I am on the Internet

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I often keep thinking about something I experienced online well after I have logged off

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I am on the Internet, I often feel a kind of "rush" or emotional high

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

You can get to know a person better on the Internet than in person 4

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I often find it peaceful to be online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I can be myself online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I get more respect online than "in real life"

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I use the Internet more than I ought to

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

People complain that I use the Internet too much

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I never stay on longer than I had planned

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

People accept me for who I am online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Online relationships can be more fulfilling than offline ones

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I am not online, I often think about the Internet

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I am at my best when I am online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I wish my friends and family knew how people regard me online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

The offline world is less exciting than what you can do online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

The Internet is more "real" than real life

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I am online I do not think about my responsibilities

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I cannot stop thinking about the Internet

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I am less lonely when I am online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I cannot see myself ever without the Internet for too long

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

The Internet is an important part of my life

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I feel helpless when I do not have access to the Internet

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I say or do things on the Internet that I could never do offline

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I have nothing better to do, I go online

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I find that I go online more when I have something else I am supposed to do

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I am online, I do not need to think about offline problems

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I sometimes use the Internet to procrastinate

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

When I am online, I can be carefree

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I often use the Internet to avoid doing unpleasant things

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Using the Internet is a way to forget about the things I must do but really do not want to do

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Even though there are times when I would like to, I cannot cut down on my use of the Internet

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I am bothered by my inability to stop using the Internet so much

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

My use of the Internet sometimes seems beyond my control

1 = strongly disagree and 10 = strong agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Social comfort

This exploration divides your answers into four scales – each scale represents how you have used the internet to meet certain needs. The graph converts your answers into a bar chart.

You can see from the graph below whether your score is ‘normal’ compared to the ‘average’ person, or whether it is extremely low or extremely high. If any of your individual scores are over 50, you should make a note of this and refer back to it when addressing your needs when you complete the Building a Good Life module.

Now you have completed the online cognition scale, understand more about your use of the internet and how it may affect your life, by going through our self-help module Online world.

You can print your results to keep a record if you wish.

Impulsive

This exploration divides your answers into four scales – each scale represents how you have used the internet to meet certain needs. The graph converts your answers into a bar chart.

You can see from the graph below whether your score is ‘normal’ compared to the ‘average’ person, or whether it is extremely low or extremely high. If any of your individual scores are over 50, you should make a note of this and refer back to it when addressing your needs when you complete the Building a Good Life module.

Now you have completed the online cognition scale, understand more about your use of the internet and how it may affect your life, by going through our self-help module Online world.

You can print your results to keep a record if you wish.

Distraction

This exploration divides your answers into four scales – each scale represents how you have used the internet to meet certain needs. The graph converts your answers into a bar chart.

You can see from the graph below whether your score is ‘normal’ compared to the ‘average’ person, or whether it is extremely low or extremely high. If any of your individual scores are over 50, you should make a note of this and refer back to it when addressing your needs when you complete the Building a Good Life module.

Now you have completed the online cognition scale, understand more about your use of the internet and how it may affect your life, by going through our self-help module Online world.

You can print your results to keep a record if you wish.

Lonely/depressed

This exploration divides your answers into four scales – each scale represents how you have used the internet to meet certain needs. The graph converts your answers into a bar chart.

You can see from the graph below whether your score is ‘normal’ compared to the ‘average’ person, or whether it is extremely low or extremely high. If any of your individual scores are over 50, you should make a note of this and refer back to it when addressing your needs when you complete the Building a Good Life module.

Now you have completed the online cognition scale, understand more about your use of the internet and how it may affect your life, by going through our self-help module Online world.

You can print your results to keep a record if you wish.

Connect with us

Sign up for our newsletters

Lucy Faithfull Foundation offers support and advice for parents, carers, professionals, survivors and communities. Shore is for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.

Our helpline 0808 1000 900

2 Birch House, Harris Business Park, Hanbury Road
Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, B60 4DJ

Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a Registered Charity No. 1013025, and is a company limited by guarantee, Registered in England No. 2729957.

Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Diversity statement
Complaints policy

Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Diversity statement
Complaints policy

Search Stop It Now

Search for:

Concerned about yourself

Self-help, information and support for those concerned about their inappropriate thoughts or behaviour.

Online offender behaviour programmes

Concerned about someone else

Information and support for those concerned about the behaviour of another adult or those concerned about a child or young persons behaviour or wellbeing.

An adult’s thoughts or behaviours

Concerned about the behaviour of another adult?

Support and advice

Group work programme

Family and Friends Forum

Child or young person’s sexual behaviour?

Child who may have been abused or exploited?

Help for professionals

Safeguarding and disclosure

Additional support organisations

Creating safer places

Working with partners

We can support anyone with a concern about child sexual abuse and its prevention via our self-help resources, programmes and helpline.

Deterrence Campaign

History of the international Stop It Now movement

Frequently asked questions

As a charity, we rely on the kindness and generosity of people like you to support our vital work to prevent child sexual abuse. And right now, we need your help more than ever.

By donating, fundraising, or simply spreading the word about our work, your support will have a huge impact.

Fundraise for us

Events and appeals

Corporate partnerships

Charitable trusts and foundations

Search for:

Chat with an advisor

Online survey

Are you aged 18 or over?

Help us understand how warning messages can prevent or stop access to sexual images and videos of children.

The survey is anonymous and takes around 20 minutes.

Complete the survey