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

The third explanation seems like the most likely and is a model for the research question proposed within this study. With the third explanation in mind, a statistical method can be chosen which will examine the differences and interactions among the contribution of the factors; that is, the independent variables’effect on the dependent variable.

There are bodies of evidence to support the notion of family affluence being associated with student performance and Internet access. The Scholastic Assessment, Test score averages, by selected student characteristics: 1995–1996, 1997–1998, and 1999–2000 (Table 135, 2004) clearly illustrates the trend that student scores tend to increase relative to household income. The association of parent education and student academic performance are supported by nearly 30 years worth of data from the , Average student scale score in reading, by age and selected student and school characteristics: Selected years, 1971 to 1999 (Table 110, 2004). The notion that household income and Internet access are related are supported by data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Internet use among 10 to 17 year olds by income and location, 2001 (2002). These factors of family affluence impact upon academic standing are already established.

An optimal research design would control for all other potential factors; such as an experimental design. In an ideal experimental design, all variables would be quantified; that is, factors ranging from the attitude and physical condition of the students, situational circumstances in a classroom, availability of computer and Internet resources in the home, assurance that those resources are in proper working condition, that all parents would treat all students equally, and that each teacher would treat each student equally. Everything a student encounters would be equitable with all other students with the only exception being Internet access within the home. It would be exceedingly difficult to use an experimental design where households would be controlled and randomly assigned to have or not have computer and Internet access. Therefore, an experimental design would be difficult to employ to determine the effect of home and Internet access on student standing.

Data utilizing established factors of family affluence and standardized test results were available from the San Miguel GEARUP Partnership. The San Miguel GEARUP Partnership is conducted in Las Vegas, New Mexico, at New Mexico Highlands University. Parents of participants complete an application form annually.