The Effects of Home Computers on Educational Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Community College Students

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Fairlie, Robert W.; London, Rebecca A.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Santa Cruz; Stanford University
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02484.x
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 727-753
• 关键词: impact; TECHNOLOGY; schools

摘要

There is no clear theoretical prediction regarding whether home computers are an important input in the educational production function. To investigate the hypothesis, we conduct a field experiment involving the random provision of free computers to low-income community college students for home use. Although estimates for a few measures are imprecise and cannot rule out zero effects, we find some evidence that the treatment group achieved better educational outcomes than the control group. The estimated effects, however, are not large and are smaller than non-experimental estimates. There is also some evidence that benefits from home computers increase with distance to campus.