Contemporary gaps in research on digital divide in education: a literature review

Abstract

While computer technology permeates all spheres of life in modern society, the outcomes of using technology are different for different groups. The “digital divide” is probably one of the most undefined terms in educational research. One of the most pressing challenges is the definition of digital divide itself. Many of the contemporary research papers still focus on the gaps in access/possession of technology while this issue is not as relevant as it used to be. Most contemporary research papers simply do not even provide a definition of the construct they investigate. Those who target higher levels of the digital divide do not define the strand they focus on or use different interchangeable terms to name it. This article reviews contemporary literature critically and clarifies basic terms related to the digital divide with a specific focus on computer and information literacy. It also provides a definition of the digital divide that shifts focus from the traditional understanding of its levels and focuses on computer and information literacy as its core, as this construct encompasses all “new literacies” and is crucial for functioning and achieving outcomes in the information society.