1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide: Central American Immigrants’ Perspective on Computer and Internet Use
Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Internet Research 2.0
Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 12, 2001

2. IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Outline
Introduction
Goals
Description of Hyattsville/Langley Park
Design
Theoretical Frameworks
Interviews
Conclusions
Introduction - why I got insterested
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

3. Questions Central Questions
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Questions
Central Questions
How can the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of young Central American immigrants towards the use of technology be described and interpreted
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

4. Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Questions
What part does technology play in the lives of these individuals and how does technology relate to their career/educational goals?
What are the conditioning factors influencing the use of technology for Central American immigrants who are successful in using or applying technology?
What are the conditioning factors influencing the beliefs or perceptions about the value of technology for Central American immigrants who are successful in using or applying technology?
What educational setting is perceived as the best way to advance their technology related skills?
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

5. IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Why Is It Important?
40 million Hispanics in US by 2010
Largest minority
8000 have immigrated from El Salvador since 1992 to DC/MD Metro Area
4700 reside in the Hyattsville area
Second largest group of Salvadorians
Third largest community of Central Americans
Nationwide
1 in 2 Hispanics have access to computer at school
1 in 8 have access at home
Hispanic Home Access % Grades 1-8, 14% in grades 9-12
White Home Access – 40% Grades 1-8, 46% grades 9-12
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle

6. Research & Literature Review
Cultural Background
US Census Data
Historical Background
Gender Issues
Educational Technology Background
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle

7. Original Research Studies
Ethnography – students (insider)
Ethnography – teachers (insider)
Oral histories
Women immigrants (2)
Langley Park Community
Classroom Technology Studies
Study Implementation Projects & Effectiveness (culturally diverse multimedia)
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle

8. Dissertation Research
Questionnaire
Dissertation Research
Observations:
Active Participant
Privileged Observer
Limited Observer
Historical/political/economic
Oral History
Board of Ed. Records
Newspapers
Census Data-immigration
Ongoing
Research
Classroom Technology
Studies
Qualitative
Ethnographic
Study Implementation
Projects & Effectiveness
National Survey of Time Use
Quantitative
Records, standardized tests: state/school
Interviews
in school
formal
informal
Out of school
Demographic census data: ex. income, family size
Measuring attitude
interpersonal culture
*thematic apperception tool, problem situation test, sentence completion test
attitude toward technology,-computer attitude scale

9. Theoretical Framework
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Theoretical Framework
Historical-structural theory
Social-cultural theory
Gender-feminist theory
Assimilation theory
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

10. Themes Social Aspects Practice Time Language Maintain Culture
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Themes
Social Aspects
Practice Time
Language
Maintain Culture
“Do Better”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

11. Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Social Aspects
Social life and after school play important in home country
Limited social time in US
Like to work with partner or in groups
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

12. Quotes about Socializing
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about Socializing
“In our country, we come home, do homework, and then go outside and play… with all the other people who live close. Everyone knows everyone.”
“Here you can’t go outside. Mom thinks its unsafe and no one is around.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

13. Quotes about Socializing
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about Socializing
“Like working with group - or someone else.”
“What if they don’t know about computers either?” “Doesn’t matter, it helps just having a second person.”
“I like to talk and work. We get our work done, but like talking.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

14. Practice Time After School In School Don’t have time Not Allowed
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Practice Time
After School
Don’t have time
Work
Take Care of Siblings
Not Allowed
No Help
Home Computer Too Slow
Home Computer Looks Different
In School
Not enough time in class
Classes too structured
Don’t like to use social time
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

15. Quotes about practice “Don’t have no computer.”
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about practice
“Don’t have no computer.”
“[I] Had internet, then dad got mad because they started charging a lot.”
“Can’t understand. Looks different than at school. This [menu bar is] not the same at home.”
“I can’t [go to friends to work on computers] after school. I take care of my brother.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

16. Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about practice
“My uncle got it for us. But he doesn’t know it either.”
“Mom and dad can’t understand the book. They’re just learning English, well they know, but not a lot of those [computer terms] words.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

17. Language Don’t like to speak in class (ask questions)
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Language
Don’t like to speak in class (ask questions)
Like to work in groups or with a partner
Like to use spell check
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

18. Quotations about Language
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotations about Language
“Most don’t like to ask questions because people laugh. We feel like we are different.”
“One time I said the bad word for beach - you know, the bad word [bitch].”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

19. Quotations about Language
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotations about Language
“Teachers are the worst. They always ask you to repeat. What? Can you say it again? I can’t understand? Makes you feel bad.”
“You can just sit there and they [teachers] will come around and see you not doing anything or are far behind and they will squat down to help you.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

20. Maintain Culture Switch back and forth in class
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Maintain Culture
Switch back and forth in class
Spanish « English
Portuguese « English
Maintain language at home and accent
“My Country”
“Back in my country.”
“In my country we …”
Reminiscing
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

21. Do Better Seniors ® “ancianos”
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Do Better
Seniors ® “ancianos”
“Usted” - a sign of respect and reverence for their experience and wisdom
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

22. Quotes about Doing Better
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about Doing Better
“My mom always says, Diane, I want you to do something more than just wash other people’s bathrooms like me. And to do this, you must have a good education.”
“They sacrificed a lot for us.”
“Want me to finish school” [unlike parents]
“Want me to go to college” [unlike parents, first in the family]
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

23. Quotes about Succeeding
Internet Research 2.0
10/12/01
Quotes about Succeeding
“My father saw no way to get anywhere. Wanted to have money to buy things for me. So he left to come here to do better, when I was still in mom’s belly.”
2/17/2019
Davina Pruitt-Mentle

24. IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Conclusions
Need time in school on computers
Limited time after school (work/day care)
Teachers need to be open to socialization
Flexible makeup
Group Work
Use computer to breakdown language barrier
Translation software for home and website
Work at your own pace
Risk Taking/One on One/Group Dialogue
Technology can be path to success - but need more access
At school
At home
Educate students and parents on economic benefits of education and technology
October 12, 2001
IR 2.0: Davina Pruitt-Mentle