저소득층 학생의 디지털 정보격차에 미치는 요인 분석 연구

Abstract

Objectives This study was conducted to analyze the types and causes of the digital information gap among low- income students, identify prerequisites for resolving the digital information gap, and derive implications to help with subsequent research related to this.
 Methods Using the digital information gap survey data collected by the Korea Intelligence Information Society Promotion Agency in 2021, a factor analysis of 22 questions was conducted to determine the types of digital information gap, and a step-by-step selection method was used to analyze the causes of each type of digital information gap. Multiple regression analysis was performed using.
 Results The average monthly household income of low-income students was analyzed to affect the access gap. In addition, it was found that the older the age, the higher the ability to use PCs and mobile devices, and the higher the household average monthly income, the relatively higher the ability to use PCs and mobile devices. On the other hand, it was found that women were less capable of using PCs. Additionally, students with a positive attitude toward digital technology say they are familiar with the basic functions of digital devices, and the efficacy of using digital devices appears to have an impact on the gap in use of low-income students.
 Conclusions The types of digital information gap among low-income students were classified into ‘access gap’, ‘use gap’, and ‘utilization gap’, which were discussed in existing information gap research. This implies that students from low-income families also have access problems related to physical access and are experiencing difficulties in accessing and utilizing digital devices and networks. Moreover, the gap in use and utilization of low-income students was identified as containing problems caused by the absence of a digital education environment, and as a way to resolve this, a digital education plan to strengthen attitudes toward digital technology and efficacy in using digital devices can be expected.