Eustler, L., Antonenko, P. & Dawson, K. (2017). Children’s Gender and Age Impact on Technology Adoption and Use. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association. San Antonio, TX.

Given today’s ubiquitous portable technology in the homes of elementary children (Rideout & Katz, 2016), children may be learning to read differently (Levy, 2009). This mixed-method study examined portable technology adoption and use behavior of children learning to read in the home (Ajzen, 1991), and searched for characteristic differences. Participants were parents of K-5 elementary children. Data sources included 120 survey responses (adapted from Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003, p. 460) and 13 individual interviews (Patton, 1990). Analysis revealed child’s gender and age distinctly impacted technology adoption behavior. Implications apply to parents, teachers and school leaders, and educational researchers, particularly to construct an awareness of how individual characteristics may affect children’s perceptions and use of portable technology.