Conceptualizing and Testing a Social Cognitive Model of the Digital Divide

Kwok-Kee Wei (), Hock-Hai Teo (), Hock Chuan Chan () and Bernard C. Y. Tan ()
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Kwok-Kee Wei: Department of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
Hock-Hai Teo: Department of Information Systems, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117417
Hock Chuan Chan: Department of Information Systems, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117417
Bernard C. Y. Tan: Department of Information Systems, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117417

Information Systems Research, 2011, vol. 22, issue 1, 170-187

Abstract: The digital divide has loomed as a public policy issue for over a decade. Yet, a theoretical account for the effects of the digital divide is currently lacking. This study examines three levels of the digital divide. The digital access divide (the first-level digital divide) is the inequality of access to information technology (IT) in homes and schools. The digital capability divide (the second-level digital divide) is the inequality of the capability to exploit IT arising from the first-level digital divide and other contextual factors. The digital outcome divide (the third-level digital divide) is the inequality of outcomes (e.g., learning and productivity) of exploiting IT arising from the second-level digital divide and other contextual factors. Drawing on social cognitive theory and computer self-efficacy literature, we developed a model to show how the digital access divide affects the digital capability divide and the digital outcome divide among students. The digital access divide focuses on computer ownership and usage in homes and schools. The digital capability divide and the digital outcome divide focus on computer self-efficacy and learning outcomes, respectively. This model was tested using data collected from over 4,000 students in Singapore. The results generate insights into the relationships among the three levels of the digital divide and provide a theoretical account for the effects of the digital divide. While school computing environments help to increase computer self-efficacy for all students, these factors do not eliminate knowledge the gap between students with and without home computers. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords: digital divide; social cognitive theory; computer ownership; school IT environment; computer self-efficacy; learning outcomes; adoption and impact of IT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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