Smartphones and laptops seem ubiquitous at U.S. universities, but there is still a "digital divide," with some students less likely than others to have consistent access to reliable technology, according to a study co-authored by an Indiana University sociologist.
Smartphones and laptops seem ubiquitous at U.S. universities, but there is still a "digital divide," with some students less likely than others to have consistent access to reliable technology, according to a study co-authored by an Indiana University sociologist.
"We find big gaps in the quality and reliability of the technology students own," said Jessica Calarco, assistant professor of sociology in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences. "Students of color and students from low-income families rely on older devices that are more likely to break down."
Problems with technology cause stress and affect academic performance at a time when students are routinely expected to use computers or other electronic devices for day-to-day class work, assignments and online readings, the researchers found.
The study, "Technology Problems and Student Achievement Gaps: A Validation and Extension of the Technology Maintenance Construct," was published in the journal Communication Research. Additional authors are Amy Gonzalez of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Teresa Lynch of The Ohio State University.
Read more at Indiana University
Image: This is Jessica Calarco. (Credit: Indiana University)
