Access To Information And Communication Technologies Research Articles

Chinese students’ access, use and perceptions of ICTs in learning mathematics: findings from an investigation of Shanghai secondary schools

Due to rapid social and economic development in China over the last three decades, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become increasingly available in Chinese classrooms and families. However, there is a lack of research regarding Chinese students’ use of ICTs in mathematics learning. In this study, we examined how Chinese students access, use, and perceive ICTs in learning mathematics. To this end, a conceptual framework for ICTs and the role of ICTs in students’ learning of mathematics was established. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 223 students in four randomly selected secondary schools in Shanghai through a questionnaire survey, followed by classroom observations and interviews with students and teachers. The results revealed that various ICTs are widely accessible in Shanghai classrooms and students overall have a positive view about the role of ICTs in their mathematics learning, especially in problem solving and in learning geometry. When learning mathematics at home, students used handheld technological devices more frequently than non-portable devices. Furthermore, there were significant differences between different students in terms of school performance levels, grade levels, and genders in their use of ICTs in learning mathematics. In particular, students from high-performing schools had more access to various ICTs but used them less frequently than their peers from ordinary schools. Suggestions and implications of the findings are discussed at the end of the paper.

Assisting the Installation of Wireless Network Devices at Bina Tani Mulya Al-Muhajidin Boarding School

The rapid development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be utilized to improve the quality of services in the world of education. Bina Tani Mulya Al Mujahidin Foundation Boarding School Junior High School (YBTMA) previously did not have ICT infrastructure, especially hotspot or access point services. Based on this, it was necessary to provide assistance to design the installation of Microtik hotspot and access point devices, as well as human resource training to use and maintain these devices so that they could be utilized as much as possible. The installation of hotspot devices and access points was carried out on November 9, 2019, while the training was carried out on November 16-17 2019. This program received positive responses from the program recipients. Our strategy of deploying internet access supporting tools, which was then followed by a briefing of theory and practice, was well received.

Exploration of ICT Appropriation by Disabled People and Its Effect on Self-Perceived Normalcy

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are omnipresent and define the interactions in society. Within society, there are vulnerable groups of people for whom ICT use is more challenging. Disabled people are the most vulnerable ICT users. To identify the digital divides of access and impact of ICT on disabled users, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted. Relying on a French national association for disability that grants unique access to disabled ICT users, two focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews were carried. The study allows to propose a model of ICT use and effects for disabled people, integrating several types of disabilities. The results show that ICT appropriation by disabled users depends on their perceived self-efficacy in ICT. ICT use can lead to negative effects, including social exclusion and low perceived normalcy. To address societal interests and develop the literature, a research agenda is proposed.

Cybercrime's tendencies of the teenagers in the COVID-19 era: assessing the influence of mobile games, social networks and religious attitudes

PurposeThe teenager community is the most affected community by cybercrime in the COVID-19 era. Increasing social networks and facilitating teenager access to the Internet have increased the probability of cybercrimes. On the other hand, entertainment such as mobile and computer games is top-rated among teenagers. Teenagers' tendency to cybercrime may be influenced by individual, parent, social, economic and political factors. Studying the impact of social networks, mobile games and parents' religious attitudes on teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era is the primary goal of this paper.Design/methodology/approachThe outbreak of COVID-19 caused a considerable change in the world and the lifestyle of all people. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was also affected by the special conditions of this virus. Changes in ICT and rapid access to it have empowered individuals and organizations, and people have increased civic participation and interaction through ICT. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has created new challenges for the government and citizens and may cause new crimes. Cybercrime is a type of crime that occurs in a cyber environment. These crimes range from invasions of privacy to crimes in which the offender vaguely paralyzes the macroeconomic. In this research, 265 students of high schools and universities are used for collecting data by utilizing a survey. Measuring actions have been done in all surveys employing a Likert scale. The causal pattern is assessed through a constructional equation modeling procedure to study the scheme's validity and reliability.FindingsThe outcomes have indicated that social networks have no significant relationship with teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era. Mobile games have a mild effect on teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era, and parents' religious attitudes significantly impact teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era.Research limitations/implicationsCurrent research also has some restrictions that must be noticed in assessing the outcomes. First, sample research was selected from high schools and universities in one city. So, the size of the model is small, and the generalization of results is limited. Second, this research may have ignored other variables that affect the tendency of teenagers' to cybercrime. Future researchers intend to investigate the parents' upbringing system's impact on teenager's trend to cybercrime in the COVID-19 era. Future research can also examine practical factors such as parental upbringing, attitudes toward technology development and virtual addiction in the COVID-19 era.Originality/valueIn this study, teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era is investigated, and a procedure is applied depending on a practical occasion. This article's offered sample provides a perfect framework for influencing parents' social networks, mobile games and religious attitudes on teenagers' tendency to cybercrimes in the COVID-19 era.

COVID-19's Influence on Information and Communication Technologies in Long-Term Care: Results From a Web-Based Survey With Long-Term Care Administrators.

BackgroundThe prevalence of COVID-19 in the United States led to mandated lockdowns for long-term care (LTC) facilities, resulting in loss of in-person contact with social ties for LTC residents. Though information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used by LTC residents to support their socioemotional needs, residents must have access to ICTs to use them.ObjectiveThis study explored ICT access and use in LTC facilities and how LTC facilities adapted to try to enhance social connections for their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsLTC administrators in South Carolina (United States) were invited to complete a web-based survey exploring ICT access and use in LTC facilities and whether access and use changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsLTC administrators (N=70, 12 nursing homes [NHs], and 58 assisted living facilities [ALFs]) completed the web-based survey. Since March 2020, a total of 53% (37/70) of the LTC facilities have purchased ICTs for residents’ use. ICTs have mainly been used for videoconferencing with family members (31/36, 86%), friends (25/36, 69%), and health care providers (26/36, 72%). NHs were 10.23 times more likely to purchase ICTs for residents’ use during the COVID-19 pandemic than ALFs (odds ratio 11.23, 95% CI 1.12-113.02; P=.04). Benefits of ICT use included residents feeling connected to their family members, friends, and other residents. Barriers to ICT use included staff not having time to assist residents with using the technology, nonfunctional technology, and residents who do not want to share technology.ConclusionsOur results suggest that over half of the LTC facilities in this study were able to acquire ICTs for their residents to use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional research is needed to explore how residents adapted to using the ICTs and whether LTC facilities developed and adopted technology integration plans, which could help them be prepared for future situations that may affect LTC residents’ engagement and communication opportunities, such as another pandemic.

Towards understanding the gender digital divide: a systematic literature review

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the gender digital divide through the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by reviewing existing knowledge within the field. This paper explores the characteristics and factors contributing to the gender digital divide. To bridge the gender digital divide, it is important to understand the factors behind gender differences in ICT access and use.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach. In total, 24 articles were selected and analysed with using PRISMA steps.FindingsDespite a significant increase in usage of the internet and other ICTs around the world, women, especially in developing countries, tend to be on the wrong side of the digital divide. The results indicate that while there are still gender differences in access to ICT in developing countries, second-level digital divide issues are more of a concern in developed countries. In the literature, several important factors have been identified as being associated with the gender digital divide. The results highlight the importance of implementable policies to bridge the gender digital divide, as well as how sociocultural factors play an important role in explaining the gender digital divide phenomenon.Originality/valueBy identifying the gender digital divide studies’ characteristics and factors contributing to the gender digital divide, the authors provide an overview of the existing research, allowing us to discuss future research needs within the field. The authors argue that more research is needed to understand how to better address the sociocultural factors affecting the gender digital divide, to understand why equal access seems not to result in equal use and, to understand the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender digital divide.

Digitalization and e‐government in the lives of urban migrants: Evidence from Bogotá

AbstractResearch on the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the lives of migrants is a growing field. However, studies in this area have been conducted mainly in wealthy countries, with municipalities that are capable of supporting migrants or refugees. There is less evidence from middle‐income host countries and how ICTs can help migrants in their resettlement efforts. To address this gap, this study examines ICT access and the use of e‐government services by Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and compares this group with short‐ and long‐term residents of Bogotá. The descriptive analysis of the data reveals that, after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, foreign migrants are less likely to own ICT devices compared to short‐ and long‐term residents, but over time do acquire ICT access. In addition, Venezuelan migrants are less likely to use e‐government services than their local peers even after controlling for demographic characteristics and internet access, with the exception of address registration. The results indicate that ICT access is not a sufficient condition for migrants to access e‐government services and there is a need for policy coordination to reduce bureaucratic “red tape” that may diminish migrants’ likelihood of accessing to e‐government services.

Threshold effects of ICT access and usage in Burkinabe and Ghanaian households

ABSTRACT Information and communication technology (ICT) has a crucial role in the individual, businesses, and cooperative lives of citizens. Many studies on ICT access tend to concentrate on the supply side of improving access to ICTs; however, limited efforts have been made to examine the households’ demand side. Thus, this study contributes to the extant literature by investigating the demand side of ICT access by households. It also examines the socioeconomic characteristics that affect the households’ access and usage of ICTs, which create a somewhat digital divide between ‘ICT have’ and ‘have not’ in Burkina Faso and Ghana. It employs Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for both Burkina Faso and Ghana 2014 in achieving its objectives. The results, among others, underscore different threshold effects in access to ICTs’ Burkinabe and Ghanaian households. Thus, to enhance the households’ ICT access, and consequently, usage of the features of the households should be taken into consideration when developing ICT access policies.

IT-Enabled Sustainable Innovation and the Global Digital Divides

This article investigates the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs), human capital, institutional settings, socio-economic, and environmental parameters on sustainable innovation (SI) using archival data for 127 economies from 2008 to 2017. We developed an econometrics research framework for investigating factors influencing SI on a global scale. We found that ICT variables, such as ICT access and ICT broadband network, positively influence sustainable innovation in conjunction with the socio-economic and political parameters. Despite differences among economies in terms of ICTs, socio-economic development, and educational attainment, ICTs are the significant drivers of sustainable innovation and economic growth. We observed a growing digital divide among nations within the context of the knowledge-based economy and the expansion of digital commerce, particularly in the least developed countries and Africa, a phenomenon impeding sustainable innovation growth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that empirically investigates the global digital divide from sustainable innovation perspectives. The results of this study suggest that to tackle the digital divide issues, policymakers and educational institutes need to perform constructive educational reform in higher education curricula, particularly concerning STEM programs, which should reflect the necessary skills and competencies for deploying emergent technologies. In addition, ICT should be considered part of a country’s critical infrastructure, particularly investment in the broadband networks regarded as the backbone of today’s innovation.

ICT development, governance quality and the environmental performance: avoidable thresholds from the lower and lower-middle-income countries

PurposeThis paper aims to study the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) readiness, use, and intensity and environmental sustainability factors in the lower and middle lower-income countries from 2012 to 2018.Design/methodology/approachICT readiness, use and intensity are measured with the impact of ICT on access to basic services, phone penetration and Internet penetration, while CO2 emissions per capita, fossil fuel energy consumption and methane emissions are used as indicators for air pollution. To achieve this goal, a two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation was performed which thresholds are computed contingent on the validity of tested hypotheses.FindingsThe results demonstrate that increasing ICT readiness, use and intensity in lower and lower-middle-income countries enhance environmental sustainability by decreasing CO2 emissions and energy consumption.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of this study is that the conclusions and policy recommendations do not take into account the specificities of each country. Indeed there are some differences in the growth pattern of ICT in the lower and middle-lower-income countries. Taken together, the authors conclude that increasing ICT has a positive net effect on CO2 and methane emissions per capita, while increasing the impact of ICT access in basic services has a net negative effect on CO2 fossil fuel energy consumption and methane emissions.Practical implicationsThe world needs immediate emissions reduction to avoid the long-term danger of climate change. Second, government authorities should give additional efforts in the more pollutant sector such as transport and industry to monitor their energy consumption.Originality/valueTo explore this issue further, the negative net effects suggest that ICT needs to be further developed beyond the determined thresholds, to attain the required negative net effect on fossil fuel energy consumption.

The impact of digitalization on export of high technology products: A panel data approach*

ABSTRACT This study argues that easy access to new information using information and communication technologies (ICT) will bring both more technological development and information about new markets, together catalyzing high technology (high-tech) production. This paper aims to show the impact of digitalization on the technology intensity of export. We use the ICT Development Index (IDI) as a proxy for the digitalization level of a country and the value of the exports of high-tech products as a proxy for the technology intensity of export. IDI comprises three components, including ICT access, usage and skills. These statistics reflect the ICT development of the country. To analyze the relevant relationship, we use panel data on countries between 2007 and 2017. The system-generalized method of moments (system GMM) dynamic panel estimator is utilized in the estimations, permitting us to control for potential endogeneity problems between the main dependent and independent variables. Results show that in developing countries, IDI has a significant effect on the export of high-tech products. In addition, the significance of the main components of IDI varies. These results suggest that developing countries striving to increase the export of high-tech products should invest more in ICT.

Information and Communication Technologies of households and individuals, geographical proximity and regional competitiveness: distribution, clusters and spatial patterns of technological capacity in Europe

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been consolidated as a fundamental pillar of the new model of competitiveness and sustainable development of territories. However, there has still not been sufficient in-depth study of the role that geographical proximity plays in the digital inequalities that affect regional competitiveness. In this context, this paper aims to identify and characterise the clusters and patterns that define the spatial behaviour of ICT access and usage variables at household and individual level in the Technology Readiness (TR) pillar of the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI). A database of 280 NUTS2 has been created in order to perform: i) an exploratory statistical analysis to show the regional behaviour of the ICT variables; and ii) a spatial autocorrelation analysis to detect the presence of spatial dependence. The results at regional level in Europe demonstrate that: i) the greatest inequalities occur in the ICT usage variables and not in those of access; ii) the indicators of TR create a spatial pattern with a gradient from the regions of the extreme north-west to south-western and eastern Europe; and iii) there is evidently an opportunity to incorporate other regional variables of ICT usage for future editions of the RCI.

The role of digital skill in mitigating digital divide: evidences from Asia-Pacific region

PurposeThis paper aims to make a modest attempt to classify the Asia-Pacific countries in terms of the access to information and communication technology (ICT) to unearth the prevalence of digital divide (if any) in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to that, this paper also examines the role played by the digital skill in bridging the digital divide in the context of Asia–Pacific countries.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data on 43 Asia-Pacific countries for the period from 2012 to 2017 was collected from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) database and World Development Indicators, World Bank. K-means clustering technique was applied to explore the natural grouping of the Asia-Pacific countries based on ICT access. The role of digital/ICT skill in narrowing the access-based digital divide was investigated using panel data regression technique.FindingsClustering of countries suggested a significant difference amongst the Asia-Pacific countries in terms of ICT access, signifying the prevalence of access based digital divide. Digital skill played pivotal role in promoting ICT access and thereby reducing the digital divide during the period of the study. Per capita income level, level of education, openness of the economy and urbanisation were observed to be the determining factors in reducing the digital divide during the period of study in the Asia-Pacific region.Originality/valueThe study makes an unique attempt to explore the role of digital/ICT skill in tapering the access-based digital divide in the context of Asia-Pacific region.

The mediating role of ICT regulation on the effects of ICT access and ICT use on e-participation: Evidence from structural equation modelling and necessary condition analysis

Recently, governments have been using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide platforms for citizen engagement and involvement through e-participation. This paper aims to explore the drivers behind e-participation in a global context. The discourse on e-participation in the information systems literature has concentrated on how technology access generally serves as a factor of citizens’ e-participation. Specifically, ICT access and ICT usage have largely been examined as disparate critical success factors in e-participation even though ICT access and ICT usage are complementary factors whose presence are mutually exclusive in achieving effective e-participation. Relying on the technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory and secondary data for 121 countries for 2018, we adopt a multi-method approach by combining partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) to understand the direct effects of ICT access, ICT usage and ICT regulation on e-participation. We also explore the mediating effects of ICT regulation in driving ICT access and ICT usage towards citizen e-participation. Our results show that ICT usage and ICT regulation significantly contribute to e-participation. ICT regulation was found to significantly mediate the nexus between ICT usage and e-participation. From our combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA, we present how researchers and policymakers can identify the factors that are critical and can result in the best possible outcome. Our study contributes to extensions of the TOE theory by drawing on constructs from the theory to identify critical factors that determine e-participation in a global context.

Evaluation of The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Development Using A’WOT Analysis

Küreselleşme ve gelişen teknoloji kırsal kalkınma kavramının da değişmesine neden olmuştur. Bu bağlamda küreselleşen dünyaya ayak uydurabilmek, sosyo-ekonomik gelişmeye katkı sağlamak ve akıllı ve rekabetçi kırsal alanlar oluşturmak amacıyla bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerinin (BİT) kırsal alanlarda kullanımının artması gerekmektedir. Literatürde çeşitli alanlarda A’WOT tekniği kullanılmasına rağmen kırsal kalkınmaya yönelik çalışmalarda özellikle turizm konusu dışında yeterli sayıda çalışma olmadığı gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı BİT’in kırsal kalkınmadaki rolünü ortaya koyarak Türkiye’deki kırsal alanların BİT potansiyelini A’WOT analizi ile değerlendirmektir. Sayısal çözümlemelerde veri olarak 9 uzmanın görüşünden yararlanılmıştır. Bulgular, kırsal alanların altyapısının yüksek oranda tamamlanmış ve akıllı tarım uygulamalarının kullanılıyor olması gibi önemli avantajlara sahip olmasına rağmen, BİT cihaz sahipliği ve erişim imkânlarının yetersiz olduğu göstermektedir. Nesnelerin interneti (IoT) teknolojisinin her alanda kullanılabiliyor olması önemli bir fırsat olarak görülmekte olup, kırsal halkın tarımsal uygulamalarda BİT’e karşı mesafeli duruş göstermesi önemli bir tehdit olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır

Determinants of Digital Divide using Demand-Supply Framework

In last two decades, India has seen high economic growth. Concomitantly, there has been increase in availability and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). However, ICT penetration in India is much less when compared to global averages. There exists a substantive level of inequality in ICT access and use. Empirical studies on extent and nature of digital divide in India are few, especially those with explicit theoretical demand-supply framework, using consistent and reliable pan India data. This paper is an attempt to address these research gaps. It examines the digital divide in India across socio-economic classes and different political-geographic regions. The reduced form demand equations for two ICT instruments – Internet and mobile phone - are estimated separately for households aggregated at subnational level. A multi-variate econometric model identifies both demand and supply side factors shaping differential access by households. Findings indicate digital divide is a reflection of existing socio-economic divide. On the demand side, socio-economic inequality as manifest in the economic conditions of households, social category, occupational profile, age and education status are key determinants of district level digital divide. Further, supply side factors like availability of electricity, mobile network and extent of urbanization also play an important role.

The social impacts of information and communication technology on sustainable development

In this study, we examine the empirical relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) development and sustainable development and explore whether the social impacts of ICTs can play a mediating role in this linkage. Given the concentration of previous literature on the effects of ICT use on sustainable development, there exists a gap in the linkage between ICT development, social impacts of ICTs, and sustainable development. Drawing on data from secondary sources from 143 countries globally for 2016, we validate a hypothesized model based on the capabilities approach and structural equation modelling to examine these linkages. Our findings show that ICT development through ICT access has a dual role on sustainable development. First, by spurring sustainable development directly and indirectly when the social impacts of ICTs act as a mediator. We provide some implications for practice and policy.

Reconsidering the digital divide: an analytical framework from access to appropriation

PurposeThis paper presents a framework to measure the digital divide by considering a more comprehensive index of information and communication technology (ICT) predictors. The authors also address the conceptual and methodological problems in the digital divide field, given that its focus has been shifted from technological access to higher-order divides over the years. The proposed framework is hypothesized and tested in the context of unemployed and underemployed residents in Singapore.Design/methodology/approachThrough a quantitative survey, 302 unemployed and underemployed workers were asked what ICT “access”, “usage” and “appropriation” meant to them. Factor analyses were deployed to identify the underlying, granular dimensions of ICT access, usage and appropriation.FindingsThe factor analyses revealed an interesting breakdown of the main factors of ICT access, usage and appropriation. The authors found that one's purpose for which technology is accessed, used and appropriated determines how each of the levels of ICT assets is defined. Thus, the authors propose new operational definitions for ICT access, usage and appropriation based on the analyses.Originality/valueThis study aims to provide a more robust measure of the digital divide from access, capabilities to outcomes. The authors hope that this framework, besides complementing current digital divide models, can be applied to different types of participants.

Information and Communication Technology-Based Education Planning and Attitude of College Students

The ubiquity of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in every school framework in the world has become a trend. With ASEAN integration problems in 2015, can fresh and younger HEI's and their students cope with this trend? The goal of this analysis is to decide the preparedness and role of new HEI students in the field of ICT education. In this study a concise template utilizing a researcher-made questionnaire (α=.971) was used. The research findings show that students at college have a optimistic declaration ('agreement') on ICT use in education (x=3.71; S=.75). This was also shown that sex greatly affects the mindset of students (z=3.91, p=.00), where male attitudes are higher (x=3.91) than female attitudes (x=3.61). Moreover, it demonstrates that preparedness for ICT in general has little to do with the mindset of students towards the usage of ICT in school. Nonetheless, there is a important marginal positive association between ICT access and an attitude of significance to 0.05 (r=.15; p=.002; single-tailed), which suggests that the more a student gets introduced to ICT, the more he develops his attitude to ICT education. It was believed that ICT-based curriculum can be readily adopted and modified for the next several years by complete ICT adoption as the current educational framework. Current and younger HEIs will also spend more in ICT Accessibility and Connectivity to further boost ICT-based awareness and preparedness.

Exploring the relationship between information and communication technology collective behaviors and sense of community: an urban refugee analysis

PurposeHelping others use information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as mobile phones, can be beneficial for individuals and communities. In urban refugee communities, displaced and living far from home, collective behaviors with mobile phones can generate a sense of belonging. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential for these offline behaviors to generate a sense of community among urban refugees.Design/methodology/approachUsing quantitative evidence, the authors examined the relationship between collective behaviors, such as sharing or helping with a mobile phone, and sense of community. The authors analyzed survey data collected from urban refugees in Rwanda via multiple regression to test hypotheses related to the impact of collective behaviors on sense of community, as well as the mediating role of ICT self-efficacy and gender.FindingsThe findings suggest that collective behaviors with mobile phones have a positive relationship with sense of community, driven primarily by providing assistance as compared to sharing. ICT self-efficacy was positively related to sense of community. However, collective behaviors' impacts differed by gender, suggesting that social dynamics influence this relationship.Originality/valueWhile the extant literature highlights the various roles of mobile phones in refugees' lives, less is known about the social aspects of use and its potential to help overcome isolation by fostering a sense of community. The authors extend this literature to a novel context (urban refugees in the Global South), testing a model that incorporates other factors that may play a role (e.g. self-efficacy and gender). These findings are valuable to urban refugees, due to difficulties in re-building a sense of community and increased ICT access.