1. Provide the citation and attach a pdf of the article (10 pts) Pro Tip: You can use ZotZero, but check the output against the APA Style online guidelines. 

Cullinan, J., Flannery, D., Harold, J., Lyons, S., & Palcic, D. (2021). The disconnected: COVID-19 and disparities in access to quality broadband for higher education students. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A662499395/AONE?u=klnb_fhsuniv&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=03c3c99d

2. What is the abstract of the article?  (10 pts)  Tips: This is usually a 200 word or less article summary. The abstract is your only cut and paste answer.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many higher education institutions (HEIs) across the world to cancel face-to-face teaching, close campus facilities, and displace staff and students to work and learn from home. Given the persistent nature of the pandemic, many HEIs have continued to deliver courses online and/or use a blended learning approach. However, there are concerns around differences in student access to digital learning resources while at home, including high quality broadband connectivity. This is important, since variation in connectivity may impact the type of online/blended model that faculty can deliver or constrain student engagement with online content. In this context, this paper combines national data on the domiciles of students enrolled in Irish HEIs with detailed spatial data on broadband coverage to estimate the number of higher education students ‘at risk’ of poor access to high quality internet connectivity. Overall it finds that one-in-six students come from areas with poor broadband coverage, with large disparities by geography and by HEI. It also finds that students from the poorest broadband coverage areas are more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged. As a result, this paper recommends that HEIs use their detailed registration data to help identify and support at-risk students. In particular, the results suggest that some HEIs may need to prioritise access to campus facilities and services to less well-off students living in poor broadband coverage areas.

3. Was the study experimental or non-experimental? Explain, tell us what made that clear.  (10 pts)

The study was non-experimental. The researchers in the study did not give treatments or introduce manipulations to the participants. The researchers observed the participants as they naturally exist.

4. Was the research qualitative or quantitative? Again, explain. (10 pts)

The research in this non-experimental study is qualitative. Most of the data is in the form of numbers and analyzed statistically.

5. What was the population studied? Why do you say that? (5 pts)

The population studied is from a large sample of college students in Ireland. Overall, there were 167,576 students in the data.

6. What sample was used for this study? Explain. (5 pts)

First, the research used data on higher education student enrollments from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in Ireland. The second dataset that was used was digital data on high-speed broadband coverage, and the third dataset that was used was a database of all residential and commercial buildings in Ireland. A fourth dataset included a Census of Population-based data from 2016.

7.What was the method of measurement? (10 pts)

• • If the research was quantitative, was the measurement scale used, Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, or Ratio? The measurement scale was ordinal. Each measurement was categorized as low, very low, minimal, no coverage, or all poor coverage.
  • If the research was qualitative, what data was collected?

8. What was the method of analysis? (10 pts)

• • • If the research was quantitative, what statistical tools were used to analyze the data? The data is analyzed using statistics and percentages.
    • If the research was qualitative, in what manner was the data analyzed?

 9. What was the conclusion of the study? (10 pts)

The conclusion of the study finds that one-in-six students enrolled in a higher education institute comes from an area with poor broadband coverage. These students are more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged. This can affect the success of students learning online or accessing content online. The research suggests that some higher education institutions need to prioritize access to campus facilities and services to those students are that disadvantaged.

 10. Why is this study useful to you? Explain in detail. (10 pts)

This study was useful and interesting to me because I am taking classes online, and I know how important it is to have decent internet access. I also know that learning from home is especially difficult for students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

11. What would be the next logical step in extending this study? (10 pts)

Future research could include monitoring the performance of students from areas of poor connectivity to measure their academic performance and online engagement compared to students with better internet connections.