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The Impact of Digital Tools on Student Writing and How Writing is Taught in Schools

July 16, 2013

In a survey of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers, a majority say digital tools encourage students to be more invested in their writing by encouraging personal expression and providing a wider audience for their work. Most also say digital tools make teaching writing easier, despite an increasingly ambiguous line between formal and informal writing and students' poor understanding of issues such as plagiarism and fair use.

Family Caregivers are Wired for Health

June 20, 2013

39% of U.S. adults are caregivers and many navigate health care with the help of technologyFour in ten adults in the U.S. are caring for an adult or child with significant health issues, up from 30% in 2010. Caring for a loved one is an activity that cuts across most demographic groups, but is especially prevalent among adults ages 30 to 64, a group traditionally still in the workforce.Caregivers are highly engaged in the pursuit of health information, support, care, and advice, both online and offline, and do many health-related activities at higher levels than non-caregivers.In a previous study by the Pew Research Center, 47% of U.S. adults say it is likely that, at some point in their life, they will be responsible for caring for an aging parent or another elderly family member. Demographic patterns bear out this prediction: People ages 65 and older represented 12.4% of the U.S. population in the year 2000 but are expected to be 19% of the population by 2030.This survey finds that fully 75% of U.S. adults age 65 and older are living with a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Numerous studies have shown that the day to day management of these complex medical cases falls squarely on family members and friends who may not be trained.But, as this study shows, caregivers are turning to every resource available to get the information and support they need.

How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms

February 28, 2013

A survey of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers shows that digital tools are widely used in their classrooms and professional lives. Yet, many of these high school and middle school teachers worry about digital divides when it comes to their students' access to technology and those who teach low-income students face obstacles in bringing technology into their teaching.

Reading Habits in Different Communities

December 20, 2012

Reading is foundational to learning and the information acquisition upon which people make decisions. For centuries, the capacity to read has been a benchmark of literacy and involvement in community life. In the 21st Century, across all types of U.S. communities, reading is a common activity that is pursued in myriad ways. As technology and the digital world expand and offer new types of reading opportunities, residents of urban, suburban, and rural communities at times experience reading and e-reading differently. In the most meaningful ways, these differences are associated with the demographic composition of differentkinds of communities -- the age of the population, their overall level of educational attainment, and the general level of household income.Several surveys by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project reveal interesting variations among communities in the way their residents read and use reading-related technology and institutions.

Search Engine Use 2012

March 9, 2012

Presents survey findings about Americans' use of search engines and how they view their own Internet search abilities, search engine performance, and the collection of user information to personalize search results or target advertising.

Where People Get Information About Restaurants and Other Local Businesses

December 14, 2011

Presents survey findings about the demographics and technology profiles of those who seek information about restaurants, bars, and local businesses and their sources of information, including the Internet, newspapers, word of mouth, and local television.

Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites

December 9, 2011

Analyzes survey findings about how teenagers navigate the world of "digital citizenship," including experiences of, reactions to, and sources of advice about online cruelty; privacy controls and practices; and levels of parental regulation.

Half of Adult Cell Phone Owners Have Apps on Their Phones

November 2, 2011

Presents survey findings about trends in the use of mobile apps on cell phones, downloaded or preloaded, and tablet computers by demographics, purpose, portion of downloaded apps used, and portion paid for. Compares results with 2009 and 2010 surveys.

Search and Email Still Top the List of Most Popular Online Activities

August 9, 2011

Presents survey findings about Americans' use of the Internet. Analyzes the two most popular online activities by gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, and household income.

E-Reader Ownership Doubles in Six Months

June 27, 2011

Presents survey findings about trends in ownership of e-book readers such as Kindles or Nooks and tablet computers such as iPads or Motorola Xooms, compared with other devices and by gender, parental status, race/ethnicity, age, education, and income.

Social Networking Sites and Our Lives

June 16, 2011

Examines the characteristics of social networking site users, their online activities, and their friendships, sense of trust, social support, perspectives, and civic engagement by site and compared with those of non-users and users of other technologies.

Americans Under Age 40 Are as Likely to Donate to Japan Disaster Relief Through Electronic Means as Traditional Means

March 23, 2011

Presents survey findings about giving online or by cellphone, as opposed to by phone, mail, or in person, to relief efforts after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Compares data with giving after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and by age and education.