Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study

This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of digital devices use at home on early English literacy development among 121 Chinese-Canadian first graders, as well as their parents’ perspectives on the families’ purposes and practices of digital devices use for English literacy, highlighting bil...

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Main Authors: Guofang Li, Fubiao Zhen, Ziwen Mei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/48
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author Guofang Li
Fubiao Zhen
Ziwen Mei
author_facet Guofang Li
Fubiao Zhen
Ziwen Mei
author_sort Guofang Li
collection DOAJ
description This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of digital devices use at home on early English literacy development among 121 Chinese-Canadian first graders, as well as their parents’ perspectives on the families’ purposes and practices of digital devices use for English literacy, highlighting bilingual children’s experiences with multiple digital devices. To understand the relationships between the children’s digital practices and early English literacy development, we collected quantitative data on children’s English literacy skills—including reading comprehension, decoding, and receptive vocabulary—alongside frequency data on digital devices use including those on computer use and television viewing. Parents of 66 children participated in interviews, providing context-specific insights into devices use purposes and language learning practices. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and independent samples <i>t</i>-tests to examine group differences. Hierarchical linear regression explored associations between digital devices use and early English literacy outcomes, while thematic analysis identified patterns from parental interviews. Results indicate a positive association between controlled television exposure and receptive vocabulary. However, no significant relationship was observed between television or computer use and decoding or reading comprehension. Findings emphasize the multifaceted but limited role of digital devices, with parents struggling to balance educational benefits and long-term concerns.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-ae496ef5a68c454eb9f00383e7204e682025-01-24T13:30:22ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-01-011514810.3390/educsci15010048Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods StudyGuofang Li0Fubiao Zhen1Ziwen Mei2Department of Language & Literacy Education, The University of British Columbia, 6200 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USADepartment of Language & Literacy Education, The University of British Columbia, 6200 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaThis mixed-methods study investigates the impact of digital devices use at home on early English literacy development among 121 Chinese-Canadian first graders, as well as their parents’ perspectives on the families’ purposes and practices of digital devices use for English literacy, highlighting bilingual children’s experiences with multiple digital devices. To understand the relationships between the children’s digital practices and early English literacy development, we collected quantitative data on children’s English literacy skills—including reading comprehension, decoding, and receptive vocabulary—alongside frequency data on digital devices use including those on computer use and television viewing. Parents of 66 children participated in interviews, providing context-specific insights into devices use purposes and language learning practices. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and independent samples <i>t</i>-tests to examine group differences. Hierarchical linear regression explored associations between digital devices use and early English literacy outcomes, while thematic analysis identified patterns from parental interviews. Results indicate a positive association between controlled television exposure and receptive vocabulary. However, no significant relationship was observed between television or computer use and decoding or reading comprehension. Findings emphasize the multifaceted but limited role of digital devices, with parents struggling to balance educational benefits and long-term concerns.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/48digital devices usecomputer devicestelevision exposureEnglish language developmentbilingual language learnersmixed methods
spellingShingle Guofang Li
Fubiao Zhen
Ziwen Mei
Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
Education Sciences
digital devices use
computer devices
television exposure
English language development
bilingual language learners
mixed methods
title Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_full Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_fullStr Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_full_unstemmed Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_short Digital Devices Use and Chinese-Canadian First Graders’ Early English Literacy Development: A Mixed-Methods Study
title_sort digital devices use and chinese canadian first graders early english literacy development a mixed methods study
topic digital devices use
computer devices
television exposure
English language development
bilingual language learners
mixed methods
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/48
work_keys_str_mv AT guofangli digitaldevicesuseandchinesecanadianfirstgradersearlyenglishliteracydevelopmentamixedmethodsstudy
AT fubiaozhen digitaldevicesuseandchinesecanadianfirstgradersearlyenglishliteracydevelopmentamixedmethodsstudy
AT ziwenmei digitaldevicesuseandchinesecanadianfirstgradersearlyenglishliteracydevelopmentamixedmethodsstudy