Abstract
This paper describes the results of a survey conducted at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy) in 2017 with university students, whereby this paper focuses on knowledge reception and acquisition. We assumed that there is a lack of fit between traditional university cultures–hence, the presentation and reception of knowledge through classical textbooks and articles, and the students’ new media behaviour. The results show that the use of media and internet changed the way students learn and search for information. Traditional ways of data reception–that is, specialist books and professionally printed journals–continue to be important, but new ways of knowledge finding–for example through websites and online-journals–are just as important. These new ways may facilitate reception processes but it is not yet clear to what extent they influence the students' performance and quality of learned contents. In this respect, however, it is interesting to note that university online offerings (e.g. Moodle, OLE) are less widely used by students than actually demanded by the design of the degree program. In addition, this study reveals differences in the reception and acquisition of educational research knowledge in age, residence, and year of study.