SGER: The Racial Digital Divide: Motivational, Affective, and Cognitive Antecedents and Consequences of Computer/Internet Use

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The indisputable existence of a racial digital divide calls into question the democratizing potential of new technologies. Evidence that access alone will not be enough to eliminate the divide suggests a consideration of fundamental psychological factors that influence all behavior. The proposed research is a first step in testing a model of computer/Internet use. Its purpose is to develop methods and measures to examine how motivational, affective and cognitive factors influence the computer/Internet use of African Americans, and how use, in turn, influences motivation, affect and cognition. African American participants will receive home computers, participate in Internet interventions during home visits and complete survey instruments needed to test a model of computer/Internet use. Results are expected to be important to understanding why people choose to use or not use computers/Internet and the impact of use on people. Results will also be important to developing strategies for reducing the racial digital divide.