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

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Fairlie, Robert W.; Robinson, Jonathan
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Santa Cruz
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.5.3.211
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 211-240
• 关键词: schools; IMPACT

摘要

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. (JEL I21, I24, J13)