Computers and the Internet

The Pew Internet & American Life Project tracks and analyzes how computers and the Web are
changing today’s world. Its work helps the media, academics, policy makers and others to better
understand technology’s impact on society.

The project explores the impact of the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily
life, education, health care, and civic and political life. Founded in 1999, it is an initiative of the
Pew Research Center, a Pew subsidiary, and is housed in the center’s office in Washington, D.C.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project uses public opinion polling methods, such as
nationwide telephone and online surveys, and other research tools to track issues and trends.
These surveys are supplemented with research from government agencies, academia and other
experts. Project staff observes what people do and how they behave when they are online as well
as conducts in-depth interviews with Internet users and  industry experts.

The project’s research efforts result in 15 to 20 reports and data memos per year, varying in size
and scope. Examples of the project’s groundbreaking studies are: the “digital divide” between
rich and poor Americans; the impact of broadband Internet access on users; the influence of the
Internet on the American electoral process; and social networking sites used by teenagers.

Education

Education has been significantly transformed by the Internet. The Pew Internet & American Life
Project examines how the rise of online communication has affected the way students are taught
and academic research is conducted, as well as its use in school administration and other
education-oriented functions. The project’s knowledge about educational issues and the Internet
is gathered through public opinion polling, online surveys and other research methods.

Recent topics explored by the Pew Internet & American Life Project include college students’
Internet use; the so-called “digital disconnect” between Web-savvy students and their schools;
and ways in which students use online resources to do their homework. The data are a useful tool
for journalists, academic researchers, school administrators and other interested parties who want
to know more about the ways that the Internet is used in education.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a Pew
subsidiary based in Washington, D.C. For more information about how the Internet is being used
by students and educators, visit the Pew Internet & American Life Project Web site.