What’s School Got To Do With It? Cautionary Tales About Correlating Computer Use and Achievement

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Jason Ravitz, John Mergendoller & Wayne Rush

This paper explores questions about whether there is a positive or negative relationship between student computer use and achievement, and whether results vary by the amount of school or home computer use. We find that generally there is an inverse relationship between in-school computer use and student achievement. However, there is a positive overall relationship between student achievement and computer proficiency, i.e., reported capability with a variety of software. Importantly, the student software capability is related to use both at school and at home. Because of the differing interpretations that are possible and the importance of the topic, caution is urged. Researchers and policy makers must think carefully when interpreting correlational results between achievement and student technology use measures, regardless of whether the direction of the proposed relationship is positive or negative.

This paper is based on findings from the Opportunity One: Technology Initiative Evaluation conducted by BIE for the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation

Suggested Citation: Ravitz, J., Mergendoller, J. & Rush, W. (2002, April). Cautionary tales about correlations between student computer use and academic achievement. Paper presented at annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. New Orleans, LA.