Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren

Robert Fairlie and Jonathan Robinson

Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series from Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz

Abstract: Computers are an important part of modern education, yet many schoolchildren lack access to a computer at home. We test whether this impedes educational achievement by conducting the largest-ever field experiment that randomly provides free home computers to students. Although computer ownership and use increased substantially, we find no effects on any educational outcomes, including grades, test scores, credits earned, attendance and disciplinary actions. Our estimates are precise enough to rule out even modestly-sized positive or negative impacts. The estimated null effect is consistent with survey evidence showing no change in homework time or other "intermediate" inputs in education.

Keywords: Social and Behavioral Sciences; education; technology; digital divide; experiment; computers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-01-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-exp, nep-ict and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (102)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren (2013)
Working Paper: Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren (2013)
Working Paper: Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren (2013)
Working Paper: Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Home Computers on Academic Achievement among Schoolchildren (2013)
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