Academic Journal
Does digital access translate into human capital gains? Assessing information technology use effects on cognitive and non-cognitive development of students in Western Rural China.
| Τίτλος: | Does digital access translate into human capital gains? Assessing information technology use effects on cognitive and non-cognitive development of students in Western Rural China. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Tang B; Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China., Cheng Z; Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China., Lin X; Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China., Cao Y; Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China., Xiao S; Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China., Ma Y; Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China., Gao K; The Library, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. |
| Πηγή: | PloS one [PLoS One] 2026 Jun 01; Vol. 21 (6), pp. e0349438. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 01 (Print Publication: 2026). |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Cognition*/physiology , Students*/psychology , Information Technology*, Humans ; China ; Rural Population ; Female ; Child ; Male |
| Περίληψη: | This study explores how the use of information technology (IT) influences the development of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities among primary school students in rural areas of western China. As IT tools become more integrated into daily life, especially in underdeveloped regions, their influence on education has grown significantly. Relying on Heckman's human capital development theory, we apply Propensity Score Matching combined with a Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) approach to analyze two rounds of panel data collected from third and fourth grade students between 2019 and 2020. The analysis suggests that while IT use does not significantly boost cognitive skills, a slight positive trend is observed, likely reflecting the coexistence of both beneficial and adverse effects. In terms of non-cognitive skills, frequent IT use appears to enhance students' openness and increase their fondness for school and teachers, yet it is also linked to rising levels of self-blame and anxiety. Additional findings show that the effects of IT use are more pronounced among older children, Han Chinese students, and those from households with lower income or lower parental education. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of IT's role in shaping human capital in rural settings and offer practical implications for policymakers. In particular, they highlight the need to maximize the positive aspects of IT in promoting equity in education while addressing its potential downsides through more customized support for diverse student populations. (Copyright: © 2026 Tang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. |
| References: | Am Psychol. 1998 Sep;53(9):1017-31. (PMID: 9841579) Psychol Sci. 2011 Jun;22(6):754-63. (PMID: 21537056) Heliyon. 2020 Feb 17;6(2):e03415. (PMID: 32099928) J Pers Assess. 2009 Mar;91(2):166-74. (PMID: 19205937) J Consult Clin Psychol. 1973 Apr;40(2):338. (PMID: 4694214) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jun 21;108(25):10081-6. (PMID: 21670271) PLoS One. 2022 Mar 23;17(3):e0264948. (PMID: 35320295) J Affect Disord. 2023 Sep 15;337:18-26. (PMID: 37236271) Annu Rev Psychol. 2002;53:371-99. (PMID: 11752490) Cyberpsychol Behav. 2009 Jun;12(3):327-30. (PMID: 19445631) Am J Pharm Educ. 2012 Nov 12;76(9):167. (PMID: 23193331) Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2014 Oct;23(5):319-325. (PMID: 26855479) J Public Econ. 2010 Feb 1;94(1-2):114-128. (PMID: 21804653) J Adolesc Health. 2009 Jun;44(6):598-605. (PMID: 19465325) Educ Inf Technol (Dordr). 2023;28(6):6695-6726. (PMID: 36465416) Front Psychol. 2023 Jan 06;13:1021032. (PMID: 36687861) Prev Med Rep. 2018 Oct 18;12:271-283. (PMID: 30406005) Q J Econ. 2011 May;126(2):987-1027. (PMID: 22719135) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260601 Date Completed: 20260717 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260813 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13225661 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0349438 |
| PMID: | 42224291 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
καταχωρήστε σχόλιο πρώτοι!