scholarly journals Family Conditions and the Accessibility of Online Education: The Digital Divide and Mediating Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8590
Author(s):  
Jiafeng Gu
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

This study is an exploration of the digital divide between urban and rural areas, and it was conducted to assess the impact of the minimum living guarantee system on online education in China. The results of the research showed that 83.38% of students in low-income families have been able to participate in online education at home during the pandemic, while 16.62% of students in low-income families have been unable to do so. The absence of computers, smartphones, and broadband Internet access in low-income households reduces the likelihood of children being able to participate in online education at home. In terms of accessing online education at home, students from urban areas have obvious advantages over those from rural ones, and students from minimum living guarantee families have obvious advantages over those from marginal minimum living guarantee ones. This study also showed that the presence of online education-related amenities, including computers, smartphones, and Internet access, mediates the relationship between the subsistence allowance system, Hukou, and accessibility of online education. To address this issue, this paper includes suggestions for bridging the digital divide in online education.

scholarly journals Broadband Internet and Income Inequality

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges V. Houngbonon ◽  
Julienne Liang
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Instrumental Variable Estimation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Digital technologies like the Internet can affect income inequality through increased demand for employment in manual and abstract jobs and reduced demand for employment in routine jobs. In this paper, we combine city-level income distribution and jobs data with broadband data from France to investigate the impact of broadband Internet access on income inequality. Using an instrumental variable estimation strategy, we find that broadband Internet reduces income inequality through increased employment in manual jobs. These effects increase with the availability of skilled workers and are significant in cities with a large service sector or high-speed Internet access. Further, the diffusion of broadband Internet comes with relatively greater benefits in low-income cities compared to high-income cities. Several robustness checks support these findings.

scholarly journals Climate shocks and human capital: The impact of the natural disasters of 2010 in Colombia on student achievement

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (79) ◽  
pp. 303-328
Author(s):  
Mauricio Giovanni Valencia Amaya
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Climate Shocks ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of the unprecedented climate shocks of the 2010 in Colombia on the results of the Saber 11 standardized test for the 2010- 2012 period. By using two unique datasets, this paper contributes to the literature by providing a better estimate of the human capital costs of climate shocks. The findings indicate that the climate shocks occurred on 2010 decreased Saber 11 test scores. The impact was stronger for female students, students from rural areas and students from low-income families. A possible channel of transmission is identified: the destruction of schools.

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on food decisions of economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Spyreli ◽  
Michelle C. McKinley ◽  
Jayne V. Woodside ◽  
Colette Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Food Decisions ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Meal Planning ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The first UK-wide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 had a serious financial impact on low-income households, a population already in higher risk of food insecurity and poor dietary choices. Qualitative data on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on food decisions of UK families are scarce. This study aimed to explore how the measures to control the spread of COVID-19 influenced the food-related decisions of socioeconomically deprived families in Northern Ireland. Methods A qualitative study captured data from online individual interviews. Participation was open for parents of children 2–17 years old living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as parents of younger children (<12y) and adolescents (≥12y). Data were collected by using the methods of Photovoice and mapping exercise. Data were analysed through a thematic approach. Results Twelve online interviews were conducted and five distinct themes were identified reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Conclusions The restrictions put in place to inhibit the spread of COVID-19 influenced all aspects of dietary decisions of low-income families. Changes observed during this period included frequent consumption of homemade meals, but also increased unhealthy snacking. Infrequent food shopping encouraged good meal planning, but was also a barrier to securing adequate fresh food. Food-related support including school meal assistance contributed to families’ food security, particularly those of single parents.

scholarly journals Food Decisions of Low-Income Families in the Era of COVID-19: A Qualitative Exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 250-250
Author(s):  
Eleni Spyreli ◽  
Michelle McKinley ◽  
Jayne Woodside ◽  
Colette Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Food Shopping ◽  
Food Planning ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disadvantaged Families

Abstract Objectives The first lockdown enforced in the United Kingdom to limit the spread of COVID-19 had serious financial consequences for some lower-income households, which were already at risk of suboptimal food choices. Particularly in Northern Ireland, where 10% of the population live in food insecure households, the pandemic has potentially further exacerbated the nutritional challenges experienced by low-income families. This paper aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on food-related decisions as experienced by economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland, UK. Methods A qualitative study collected data through online individual interviews. Participation was open to parents of children 2–17 years old who self-identified as living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as younger (&lt;12 y) and older children (&gt;12 y). Photovoice and participatory mapping techniques were employed to capture participant data. A thematic approach was utilised for data analysis. Results A total of 12 interviews were conducted. Five distinct themes were found, reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Changes included an increase in home food preparation, but also in unhealthy snacking. Fear of being exposed to carriers of the virus led to infrequent food shopping and greater reliance on supermarket home deliveries. Long waiting times in-between food shops encouraged food planning but were also a barrier to providing daily fresh foods including fruit and vegetables to their families. Financial constraints were exacerbated during lockdown and led to a search for new ways to budget when food shopping. Food donations from the community and the government were important to maintain food security, particularly in single-parent families. Conclusions This study highlights that the COVID-19 lockdown influenced a broad range of dietary decisions of economically disadvantaged families and offers an insight into the nutritional challenges they experienced. Funding Sources The work was completed with financial support from internal funds of Queens University Belfast.

Evidence from Google Trends of a Widening Second-level Digital Divide in Brazil. Even Worse with the Covid-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 121-154
Author(s):  
Renato P. dos Santos ◽  
M Şahin Bülbül ◽  
Isadora L Lemes
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Statistical Research ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Choropleth Maps ◽  
The Impact

Background: While Brazilian governmental initiatives focused on home broadband Internet access, availability of computers for students in schools has been drastically reduced since 2010. Furthermore, schools usually prohibits mobile Internet access in its premises, contrarily to the migration of students’ access to smartphones.  Objectives: This study investigates the impact of the increasing home and mobile Internet access on the existing educational inequalities. Design: This study made use of quantitative, locally statistical research to investigate the reproduction or closing of existing educational digital divide across already contrasting Brazilian regions. Setting and Participants: Child or adolescent from 9 to 17 years of age and their guardians, interviewed by CETIC.br. Data collection and analysis: Data was obtained from the CETIC.br data portal and the Google Trends webpage. Data were analysed by means of local geostatistical measures of spatial autocorrelation and inequality, as well as bivariate choropleth maps. Results: Our results suggest that the Brazilian school system is failing to cultivate in their students the more productive use of Internet access and therefore contributing to the widening of the existing second-level digital divide between regions and social classes. Conclusions: This digital divide was critically exacerbated by the arrival of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the suspension of presential classes.Brazilian policymakers should concentrate efforts and resources in addressing this large-scale second-level digital divide, possibly by equipping educators and students with the knowledge and skills towards the educational, productive and responsible use of the Internet, as well as allowing mobile Internet access in school premises.

The impact of the Greek crisis on the consumers’ behaviour: some initial evidences?

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 890-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Noelle Duquenne ◽  
George Vlontzos
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the changes on food consumption patterns of households, due to the ongoing economic crisis in Greece. Design/methodology/approach – A sample survey among a random sample of 932 households living in the region of Thessaly, central Greece, was carried out, with the consuming behaviour to be focused on 20 basic food products. An exploratory factor analysis, followed by a hierarchical classification of the households, was implemented. Findings – Six patterns of food consumption's behaviour have been detected, revealing that most of the households have modified their eating habits, by reducing the quantities consumed and/or looking for less expensive brands. Only 15 per cent of the households do not seem to be affected by the crisis and the austerity policy. The spatial dimension of the research signify that low-income households in urban areas, where the majority of the population lives, are deeply affected by the crisis, with these percentages to be even higher at semi-urban and rural areas. Originality/value – This is the first attempt of assessment of the impact of the economic crisis in Greece on food consumption pattern, verifying its significant negative impact on an inelastic need, such food consumption is.

Understanding child bilingual acquisition using parent and teacher reports

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
VERA F. GUTIÉRREZ–CLELLEN ◽  
JACQUELINE KREITER
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Language Behavior ◽  
Teacher Reports ◽  
Language Exposure ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

There is limited research regarding what levels of proficiency in each language should characterize the language behavior of bilingual children and the impact of language exposure or language use variables on bilingual performance. This study was designed to examine the extent to which years of exposure to a language(s), amount of language input at home and at school, and amount of exposure to reading and other literacy activities in a language(s) relate to observed bilingual performance in young children, as obtained from parent and teacher reports. A secondary goal was to determine the extent to which parents or teachers could assist in determining language status by examining relationships between their ratings of the child's use and proficiency in the two languages and the child's grammatical performance. Fifty-seven children and their families were sampled from second grade classes of a large school district serving primarily low-income families in southern California. Multiple regression analyses for each language indicated that amount of Spanish input at home was a significant predictor of grammatical performance in that language. These input effects did not hold for English. Although there were some crosslinguistic differences, parent and teacher ratings of use and proficiency correlated with the child's grammatical performance in the target language. The findings suggest that parent and teacher estimates may be useful to determine bilingual status.

scholarly journals Closing the Digital Divide in Low-Income Urban Communities: A Domestication Approach

10.28945/3885 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Kanyi Wamuyu
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Low Income Households

Aim/Purpose: Significant urban digital divide exists in Nairobi County where low income households lack digital literacy skills and do not have access to the internet. The study was undertaken as an intervention, designed to close the digital divide among low income households in Nairobi by introducing internet access using the domestication framework. Background: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to help reduce social inequality and have been hailed as critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). Skills in use of ICTs have also become a prerequisite for almost all forms of employment and in accessing government services, hence, the need for digital inclusion for all. Methodology: In this research study, I employed a mixed methods approach to investigate the problem. This was achieved through a preliminary survey to collect data on the existence of urban digital divide in Nairobi and a contextual analysis of the internet domestication process among the eighteen selected case studies. Contribution: While there have been many studies on digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world, within the African continent, among genders and between rural and urban areas at national levels, there are few studies exploring urban digital divide and especially among the marginalized communities living in the low-income urban areas. Findings: Successful domestication of internet and related technologies was achieved among the selected households, and the households appreciated the benefits of having and using the internet for the first time. A number of factors that impede use of internet among the marginalized communities in Nairobi were also identified. Recommendations for Practitioners: In the study, I found that use of differentiated costs internet services targeting specific demographic groups is possible and that use of such a service could help the marginalized urban communities’ access the internet. Therefore, ISPs should offer special internet access packages for the low-income households. Recommendation for Researchers: In this research study, I found that the urban digital divide in Nairobi is an indication of social economic development problems. Therefore, researchers should carryout studies involving multipronged strategies to address the growing digital divide among the marginalized urban communities. Impact on Society: The absence of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) inclusion policy is a huge setback to the achievement of the SDGs in Kenya. Digital inclusion policies prioritizing digital literacy training, universal internet access and to elucidate the social-economic benefits of internet access for all Kenyans should be developed. Future Research: Future studies should explore ways of providing affordable mass internet access solutions among the residents of low-income communities and in eliminating the persistence urban digital divide in Kenya.

scholarly journals Rural and Non-Rural Digital Divide Persists in Older Adults: Internet Access, Usage, and Perception

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 412-413
Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Eun Young Choi ◽  
Youngsun Kim ◽  
Jessica Neese ◽  
Yan Luo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Comprehensive Plans

Abstract Despite the overall increase in Internet use among older adults, the digital divide within older Americans remains substantial. This trend is particularly true for older adults living in rural areas. Informed by the Social Determinants of Health Framework, our study aims to examine how one’s residential area relates to (1) Internet Access, (2) subtypes of usage patterns, and (3) perceptions on technology use. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The sample consisted of 18,196 older adults aged 50 and above (47.6% rural residents). A series of linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Our models controlled for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and health conditions. Compared to older adults living in urban areas, those residing in rural areas had 29% lower odds of internet access. Living in rural areas predicted lower levels of all sub-types of technology use (communication, financial, health, and media technology). In addition, non-users in rural areas showed more unfavorable perceptions of technology than urban residents. They were more likely to conceive technology as “too complicated”, “too hard to learn”, and “too difficult to keep up with all changes.” Our findings suggest that substantial segments of older adults in rural areas are still behind in accessing and adopting digital technology. Targeted intervention efforts are urgently needed to reduce technology inequality including comprehensive plans to expand broadband access and building mobile technology infrastructure for rural communities.

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