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http://hdl.handle.net/2451/31408
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| Title: | The Effects of Home Computers on Educational Outcomes: Evidence from a
Field Experiment with Schoolchildren |
| Authors: | Fairlie, Robert
Robinson, Jonathan |
| Keywords: | Computers, education, technology, experiment |
| Issue Date: | 21-Dec-2011 |
| Series/Report no.: | NET Institute Working Papers;11_14 |
| Abstract: | Are home computers are an important input in the educational production
function? To address this question, we conduct a field experiment
involving the provision of free computers to schoolchildren for home
use. Low-income children attending middle and high schools in 15 schools
in California were randomly selected to receive free computers and
followed over the school year. The results indicate that the experiment
substantially increased computer ownership and total computer use among
the schoolchildren with no substitution away from use at school or other
locations outside the home. We find no evidence that the home computers
improved educational outcomes for the treatment group. From detailed
administrative data provided by the schools and a follow-up survey, we
find no evidence of positive effects on a comprehensive set of outcomes
such as grades, test scores, credits, attendance, school enrollment,
computer skills, and college aspirations. The estimates also do not
indicate that the effects of home computers on educational outcomes are
instead negative. Our estimates are precise enough to rule out even
modestly-sized positive or negative impacts. The lack of a positive net
effect on educational outcomes may be due to displacement from
non-educational uses such as for games, social networking, and
entertainment. We find evidence that total hours of computer use for
games and social networking increases substantially with having a home
computer, and increases more than total hours of computer use for schoolwork. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2451/31408 |
| Appears in Collections: | NET Institute Working Papers Series
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Files in This Item:
| File |
Description |
Size | Format |
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| 11_14.pdf | NET Institute Working Paper 11_14 | 214.38 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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