Reexamining Patterns of Negative Computer- Use and Achievement Relationships. Where and Why Do They Exist?

A close examination of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1995 results showed that fourth grade students in Cyprus, Hong Kong and the USA who used computers most frequently in the classroom were the students with the lowest achievement in their countries. Previous studies we conducted showed similar results for 15-year-old students in various countries that took part in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The purpose of this study was to look more closely at the computer use and achievement relationships to determine if similar patterns continue to exist in the TIMSS-R database. The results of this study did find similar types of relationships. More specifically, 15-year-old students in Cyprus who frequently used the Internet to communicate with other students, and who had teachers who frequently used computers in their classrooms tended to have lower scores than other students with fewer such opportunities. Similar results were found for science and mathematics. Finally, a non-surprising result of this study was that the students who own computers in their homes tend to have higher academic achievement than the students who do not have them.