The Impact of Home Internet Access on Test Scores By Steve Macho

Chapter 1:

Introduction

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The Appendix NMHU / San Miguel GEAR-UP Student Application, 2003–2004 School Year ,contains a reproduction of the survey form. The data collected from this instrument were used to conduct the GEARUP program and complete an annual performance review. There was a high rate of return on the applications because completed applications were required before any students could obtain their earned reward. The participant’s application form contained questions that were within the scope of the objectives of GEARUP, for example, Do you plan to go on to college? What college? What major? Data gathered by the San Miguel GEARUP partnership includes information on Internet access at home and family affluence. The San Miguel GEARUP partnership has collected the results of standardized tests on participants.

Using data from the San Miguel GEARUP partnership is in the interest of the partnership because findings of this study could be used to seek support to provide Internet access to San Miguel GEARUP partnership participants in hopes of improving their academic standing. Findings of this research could be generalized to other underrepresented populations similar to those of the San Miguel GEARUP partnership.

A quasi-experimental research design can be selected to determine if there is a difference in the academic standing for those who have Internet access at home compared to those who do not have Internet access at home. Although those with Internet access at home may have a different academic standing, is that an indication of family affluence or a benefit of that technology, or some combination of both? Therefore, the effect of family affluence will be examined to determine if a potential difference in academic standing is an independent factor, or if it follows family affluence. Affluence for the purposes of this study will be defined as the income level of the household the student resides within, and the highest attained education levels of the mother, father, or guardian.

Purpose of the Study

Prior research (Attewell & Battle, 1999; Becker, 2000; Warschauer & Knobel, 2004) indicates that there are relationships between technology access at home and a difference in standardized test scores.