Sabina Lissitsa

Examination of factors predicting secondary students’ interest in tertiary STEM education

ABSTRACT Based on the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), the study aims to investigate factors that predict students’ interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in tertiary education both in general and in relation to their gender and socio-economic background. The results of the analysis of survey responses of 2458 secondary public school students in the fifth-largest Israeli city indicate that STEM learning experience positively associates with students’ interest in pursuing STEM fields in tertiary education as opposed to non-STEM fields. Moreover, studying advanced science courses at the secondary school level decreases (but does not eliminate) the gender gap and eliminates the effect of family background on students’ interest in pursuing STEM fields in the future. Findings regarding outcome expectations and self-efficacy beliefs only partially support the SCCT model. Outcome expectations and self-efficacy beliefs positively correlate with students’ entering tertiary education but did not differentiate between their interests in the fields of study.

Gaps close, gaps open: a repeated cross-sectional study of the scope and determinants of the ethnic digital divide

The paper is part of a repeated cross-sectional study examining how groups in multi-ethnic states adopt and use information and communication technologies, with focus on the magnitude and the determinants of the digital divide between Jews and Arabs in Israel as a case study. The study examines socio-economic and socio-demographic factors correlated to internet usage in general and usage of social media in particular, based on data collected between 2008 and 2010 by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics Annual Social Survey. The data was collected by means of face-to-face interviews conducted annually among 7500 interviewees aged 20 and above. The study demonstrates the multi-dimensionality of the digital divide phenomena and shows how the digital divide does not diminish, yet, rather, transforms over time. As access differences between Jews and Arabs gradually diminish, a ‘second-level’ digital divide of social media usage actually widens.

Patterns of digital uses among Israeli Arabs – between citizenship in modern society and traditional cultural roots

This study examines the digital divide between the Jewish majority and Arab minority in Israeli society as manifested by Internet access and patterns of use. The goals of this paper were to examine the digital divide between these two groups and to identify the factors that influence these gaps. The study is based on data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics Annual Social Survey, collected in 2011 through face-to-face interviews of 5872 interviewees aged 20–65 years. Jews were found to have an advantage over Arabs in terms of Internet access and in terms of the two types of uses: capital-enhancing and recreational. Our important conclusion is that, theoretically, with background variables being the same, the first-level digital divide between Jews and Arabs can be considered closed; in contrast, the second-level digital divide remains even if human resources in both groups are the same. This gives reason to assume that beyond the impact of human resources, the second-level digital divide between Jews and Arabs originated from their cultural background. Israeli Arabs are a unique minority indigenous group with two affinities – to Israeli modern society (because of citizenship) and to the Arab traditional world (because of their religious and cultural roots). Closing digital gaps requires changes in basic social, economic, and cultural aspects of the Arab sector on the individual level, i.e., personal motivation, as well as on the community level, including collective sociocultural preferences.

Life satisfaction in the internet age - Changes in the past decade

Using data from large scale Annual Social Surveys of the CBS in Israel, the current study investigated the impact of internet adoption and internet uses on the life satisfaction of senior citizens (aged 65+), compared to those of working age (ages 20-64) during the decade of 2003-2012. The findings show high-medium levels of life satisfaction - higher in younger age group, compared to the senior citizens. Life satisfaction increased moderately over time among the younger age group, while among the older population it remained stable during the decade under study. Our main conclusion is that internet adoption and digital uses increase life satisfaction, after controlling for socio-demographic variables, sociability and health condition. In addition, internet adoption and digital uses can constitute an important channel for increasing life satisfaction among senior citizens and weaker social groups: people from low economic strata and those suffering from health problems that interfere with day-to-day functioning. Moreover, in contrast to other powerful factors impacting life satisfaction (income, religiosity, sociability and health problems) this factor can be changed with relative ease, if digital literacy becomes one of the important goals in the national agenda. The research focused on impact of internet adoption on the life satisfaction.Life satisfaction increased among the 18-64 aged and remained stable among seniors.Internet adoption and digital uses increase life satisfaction.Internet use is a channel for increasing life satisfaction among weaker groups.

Digital use as a mechanism to accrue economic capital: a Bourdieusian perspective

Using data from a large-scale Annual Social Survey of the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel, this study examines the “second-level” digital divide between the Jewish majority and Arab minority in Israeli society. The goals of this paper were to present the digital inequality between these two groups; to examine the connection between digital uses and economic capital and to characterize the link between the digital and social inequalities. Jews were found to have an advantage over Arabs in terms of Internet access and digital uses. Digital uses are an important resource that contributes to individuals’ economic rewards, beyond the impact of classic socio-demographic factors such as education and language proficiency. Therefore, digital technology can serve as a mobility channel for the Arab minority group to attain social and economic equality with the Jewish majority.

The less you know, the better you'll sleep - Perceived job insecurity in the Internet age

By applying theories from different fields of study in the labor market context, we investigated the effect of Internet use and digital uses on perceived job insecurity during the years 2003-2012. Our study is based on data from nationwide Annual Social Surveys of the CBS in Israel, drawing on a representative sample of 45,988 employed respondents. Our findings show that Internet use negatively correlated with job insecurity, but the effect of Internet use on the dependent variable decreased over this period. Internet use was found to be more effective for decreasing job insecurity among weaker social groups: Arabs and people from low socio-economic strata. In other words, Internet use promotes weaker social groups and can serve as a channel for decreasing job insecurity. However, our findings also show that seeking information and social media use were positively correlated with perceived job insecurity, attributable to the negative-positive asymmetry forming the individuals sense of economic pessimism.

Studying the coevolution of social distance, offline- and online contacts

We study the co-evolution of social distance, offline contact and online contact.The highest explained variance was found in the models predicting social distances.Online contacts had the lowest explanatory value from among the three variables.Offline contact seems more effective than online contact in reducing social distance.Low percentages of the population maintain frequent contact either online or offline. We inquire about the correlations between contact and perceived social distance: Whether in line with the contact theory, online as well as offline contacts that Israeli Jews have with Arabs affect their perceived social distances from Arabs, or rather whether Israeli Jews who feel closer to Arabs maintain more offline and online contacts with Arabs, according to the social homophily approach.We found that social distance, online contact and offline contact were mutually supportive, whereas the background variables included in the regression analysis (age, gender, religiosity, place of residence, education and income) had no effect on either of them. While the three are mutually supportive, perceived social distance and offline contacts had greater explanatory value than online contacts.

Internet use and leisure time physical activity of adults - A nationwide survey

We examined the relationships between physical activity and Internet use habits, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model as a framework. The purpose was to examine how Internet access, digital use, and time spent online correlate with the odds of engaging in three types of PA: strenuous, moderate, and muscle-strengthening Data relied on the Annual Social Survey conducted by Israels Central Bureau of Statistics in 2010, with 6035 participants aged 20-65. Logistic regressions revealed that the odds of engaging versus not engaging in three types of physical activity were higher among Internet users compared to non-users. The odds of engaging versus not engaging in strenuous physical activity were higher among those who used the Internet for studying, social media, and downloading; in strengthening muscles were higher among those who used the Internet for seeking information and social media; and in moderate physical activity were higher among those who used the Internet for studying, compared to non-users. We suggest that the measured digital uses represent intention and action plans similar in their determinants to being physically active. Health care decision makers should increase availability of information on the Internet regarding a healthy lifestyle, concentrating on leisure-time physical activity habits. Engagement in three types of PA was higher among Internet users than non-users.Digital use stems from the intention to make plans for participating in PA, as described in the Theory of Planned Behavior.Participation in PA was higher among those engaging in digital uses for studying, social media, and seeking information.

Talking or acting? Gender differences in physical activity participation in Israel at the threshold of the 21st century

Abstract Lack of physical activity is an important factor that leads to poor health, mortality, and high costs of medical treatment in the Western world. Advances in technology in the past couple of decades have made lifestyles more passive, and have thus affected the population’s health. Although the number of Israelis declaring that they participate regularly in physical activity is rising, this number is still lower than in the Western world. The aim of this research is to map the adult Jewish population according to participation in physical activity and attitudes towards physical activity and sport. Data were collected as part of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) in 2007 via face-to-face interviews. In the current sample of participants aged 18 years old and above, 1032 interviewees were divided into groups by cluster analysis. Findings suggest that we cannot refer to the population as a whole, but rather as four different types: a) athlete at heart – pro-sport as well as physically active; b) anti-sport – holds a negative attitude towards sport and is not physically active; c) armchair sportsperson – holds a positive attitude towards sport, but is not physically active; and d) trendy sportsperson – an active person who holds a neutral or negative attitude towards sport. While attempting to characterize the types by gender, the study suggests that women tend to be part of the anti-sport and trendy sportsperson groups, unlike men who tend to be part of the athlete at heart and armchair sportsperson groups. At the same time, differences related more to attitudes than behaviour. Men hold positive stances towards sport moreso than women, who participate in physical activity more for instrumental reasons.

Online political participation, online contacts with out-groups members and social distances

ABSTRACT In light of the growing role of social media in conflict management, the current study analyzes the interrelationship of online political participation of Israeli Jews, the frequency of their online contacts with Arabs, and Jews’ perceived social distances from Arabs. The research was conducted through an online survey of a representative sample of 458 Israeli Jews who use the social media at least 3 times a week. Overall, although causation cannot be inferred because of the correlational design of our study, results suggest that frequency of online contacts may positively affect closeness to Arabs in line with contact theory. In keeping with the socialization perspective of political engagement, the findings indicate that the impact of online political participation on social distances from Arabs was mediated by interactions between Jews and Arabs in the social media.