Regional Disparity in the Educational Impact of COVID-19: A Spatial Difference-in-Difference Approach
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I began reading this paper with great enthusiasm, but soon found myself losing track of where I was in the text. First and foremost, several references are in Korean. International readers will be unable to cross-reference them with the cited contexts.
The first thing the authors found was that the effects of online class conversion on student performance varied significantly between regions with low and high land prices, and that these differences were more pronounced for Math score during the pandemic's first year. The regional gap persisted even though both regions' scores rose during the second year of the pandemic. This suggests that rather than being a result of wealth-based educational facilities, the initial gap between urban and rural areas may have been caused by novelty. Covid has nothing to do with inequity as a result. Additionally, figure 1 does not visually reflect the variations in academic performance between Seoul and the rest of South Korea. A second year of high school must also be better justified than it is at present.
In this regard, the authors contend that a range of internet availability rates—between 80.6% and 99.1%—showed a marked regional variation in internet usage and restricted access to internet infrastructure in some areas. However, I am unable to identify the source of this connectivity information. Is it wireless or landline? Many students used their smartphones to access online materials. As a result, a stricter standard must be used to measure the effect of internet connectivity.
The disproportionate effect of online class conversion across regions was not caused by differences in students' financial resources. Inequality existed already. Because schools in wealthy areas followed central government guidelines to a greater extent than schools in poor areas. Thus, after some revisions to their strong hypothesis and statistical tests on the impact of some variables, including internet connections, this paper can be published.
Here are some references for your convenience.
Emergency Management Policy Issues during and after COVID-19: Focusing on South Korea
Ki Woong Cho;Dongkyun Park, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 22 issue 1, 2023, Pages 49-81, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2023.22.1.049
Digital Technology Practices and Vaccine Campaign in Korea: International Perceptions on Health Diplomacy amid COVID-19 Crisis
Tahira, Iffat, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 21 issue 2, 2022, Pages 27-46, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2022.21.2.027
Rural Communication in the Covid-19 Pandemic: an Empirical Analysis from Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam
Nguyen, Hien Thi Dieu;Nguyen, Chung Van;Pham, Chung;Nguyen, Phong Thanh;Le, Cuong Chi Hung;Pham, Nhung Thi;Tran, Nguyet Thi Anh, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 21 issue 1, 2022, Pages 33-42, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2022.21.1.033
Author Response
I began reading this paper with great enthusiasm, but soon found myself losing track of where I was in the text. First and foremost, several references are in Korean. International readers will be unable to cross-reference them with the cited contexts.
- We understand that references in Korean may cause inconvenience to international readers. These references had been included in the references because they cover the situation in Korea, the subject of this study, in more detail and convey key discussions. However, as you pointed out, we have included in the references additionally, along with papers in English that provide the discussion for international readers.
The first thing the authors found was that the effects of online class conversion on student performance varied significantly between regions with low and high land prices, and that these differences were more pronounced for Math score during the pandemic's first year. The regional gap persisted even though both regions' scores rose during the second year of the pandemic. This suggests that rather than being a result of wealth-based educational facilities, the initial gap between urban and rural areas may have been caused by novelty. Covid has nothing to do with inequity as a result. Additionally, figure 1 does not visually reflect the variations in academic performance between Seoul and the rest of South Korea. A second year of high school must also be better justified than it is at present.
- As you pointed out, due to the difference in infrastructure between urban and rural areas, the transition to online classes in the early days of COVID-19 may affect the difference between Y1 and Y2. Particularly in the second year of the pandemic, the persistence of regional disparities despite both regions' scores rising may mean that existing urban-rural differences are reflected. However, the main impact of this study was to show that there is a difference in the results in response to sudden online shifts caused by the pandemic rather than the direct effects of COVID-19. In addition, the land price used in this study reflected the difference between urban and rural areas on a broader scale and tried to distinguish the response and influence of the community and family to the transition to online classes through land price. I added a more detailed explanation to the Discussion based on the prior research and additional research you provided. In addition, as a limitation of the study, the impact of the difference between urban and rural areas before COVID-19 was added.
- Figure 1 is not a picture to show the difference between Seoul and other regions, but instead plays a significant role in confirming whether there is a difference between Y1 and Y2 while showing that spatial clustering exists for the Y1 and Y2 effects. Additional explanations have been added to the text to convey more accurate information to the readers.
In this regard, the authors contend that a range of internet availability rates—between 80.6% and 99.1%—showed a marked regional variation in internet usage and restricted access to internet infrastructure in some areas. However, I am unable to identify the source of this connectivity information. Is it wireless or landline? Many students used their smartphones to access online materials. As a result, a stricter standard must be used to measure the effect of internet connectivity.
- The Internet availability ratio used in this study is the ratio of households that can access the Internet through wired Internet, wireless LAN, mobile Internet, etc., regardless of actual use among all households. As you pointed out, I have added an accurate description of the Internet Availability Rate to the text to convey accurate information to the reader.
The disproportionate effect of online class conversion across regions was not caused by differences in students' financial resources. Inequality existed already. Because schools in wealthy areas followed central government guidelines to a greater extent than schools in poor areas. Thus, after some revisions to their strong hypothesis and statistical tests on the impact of some variables, including internet connections, this paper can be published.
- The central government's guidelines for online classes have been mandatory in all regions. However, each region had to attempt class conversion for online education based on the resources available within the central government's guidelines. So, relatively affluent regions can follow the central government's guidelines well because communities and schools need resources that can quickly turn them into those guidelines. In addition, to participate in this online class, the family's financial power was also significant because it was necessary to create a stable class environment quickly. However, as you pointed out, the content is vaguely written. In addition, additional research is needed on the differences between urban and rural areas. Based on your comments, to reduce reader confusion, a detailed explanation of the discussion has been added to the Discussion and Conclusions and added as a limitation of the study.
Here are some references for your convenience.
Emergency Management Policy Issues during and after COVID-19: Focusing on South Korea
Ki Woong Cho;Dongkyun Park, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 22 issue 1, 2023, Pages 49-81, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2023.22.1.049
Digital Technology Practices and Vaccine Campaign in Korea: International Perceptions on Health Diplomacy amid COVID-19 Crisis
Tahira, Iffat, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 21 issue 2, 2022, Pages 27-46, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2022.21.2.027
Rural Communication in the Covid-19 Pandemic: an Empirical Analysis from Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam
Nguyen, Hien Thi Dieu;Nguyen, Chung Van;Pham, Chung;Nguyen, Phong Thanh;Le, Cuong Chi Hung;Pham, Nhung Thi;Tran, Nguyet Thi Anh, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, volume 21 issue 1, 2022, Pages 33-42, DOI: 10.17477/jcea.2022.21.1.033
Reviewer 2 Report
The article discusses an important problem which was the inflation of education inequality between the areas with high and low land prices during the COVID-19 pandemic . This problem has been noticed in many countries, but it has not been subjected to such a thorough analysis. The research problem is important both for scientific discussion and has an application value.
The authors described in detail the criteria for selection of the sample and the methodology of the research. I have no comments on this. The analyses were performed correctly. The use of the DID (Difference-in-Difference) method as a representative analytical method is justified in this case. The article has been enriched with a graphical presentation of the research results, which is a significant value of the work. I have only remarks about a fairly modest literature review, but having in mind the conducted reliable research, it does not affect the substantive value of the work.
Author Response
The article discusses an important problem which was the inflation of education inequality between the areas with high and low land prices during the COVID-19 pandemic . This problem has been noticed in many countries, but it has not been subjected to such a thorough analysis. The research problem is important both for scientific discussion and has an application value.
The authors described in detail the criteria for selection of the sample and the methodology of the research. I have no comments on this. The analyses were performed correctly. The use of the DID (Difference-in-Difference) method as a representative analytical method is justified in this case. The article has been enriched with a graphical presentation of the research results, which is a significant value of the work. I have only remarks about a fairly modest literature review, but having in mind the conducted reliable research, it does not affect the substantive value of the work.
We want to express our sincere appreciation to Reviewer #2 for reviewing our manuscript. Your insightful feedback is invaluable and has significantly improved the paper's quality. We are grateful for your positive comments on the significance of the research problem and the methodology used.
We have enhanced this section in response to your constructive feedback regarding the literature review. Additionally, we have expanded the discussion to consider how the transition to online education might vary based on community levels and the financial circumstances of schools and families. This includes examining the potential disparities in online change due to differences in land values. We have incorporated additional research papers published in English, catering to an international readership, to substantiate the study's context and framework further.
Once again, we extend our gratitude for your thoughtful review, which has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in enhancing the overall quality and depth of the research paper. Your insights have been invaluable in shaping the outcome.
Reviewer 3 Report
First of all, congratulations for choosing a highly a topical issue. I believe that paper “Regional disparity in the educational impact of COVID-19: a spatial difference-in-difference approach” would be very important to the readership of Sustainability.
The authors have carried out a deep and thorough theoretical analysis of the researchers’ works which are devoted to a range of issues on regional disparit.
Intro: coincide and well-written.
Methods, measures and analysis: well designed and adequate for the study’s aims
Results: well presented.
Discussion: the results are well-discussed.
The conclusions and generalizations made by the authors are valid and properly proved. The text of the article is characterized by strict consistency and coherence of the data.
This paper is an specific accomplishment with useful information and well written.
The paper “Regional disparity in the educational impact of COVID-19: a spatial difference-in-difference approach” which is considered as interesting, substantial and deep, is undoubtedly recommended to publication.
Author Response
First of all, congratulations for choosing a highly a topical issue. I believe that paper “Regional disparity in the educational impact of COVID-19: a spatial difference-in-difference approach” would be very important to the readership of Sustainability.
The authors have carried out a deep and thorough theoretical analysis of the researchers’ works which are devoted to a range of issues on regional disparit.
Intro: coincide and well-written.
Methods, measures and analysis: well designed and adequate for the study’s aims
Results: well presented.
Discussion: the results are well-discussed.
The conclusions and generalizations made by the authors are valid and properly proved. The text of the article is characterized by strict consistency and coherence of the data.
This paper is an specific accomplishment with useful information and well written.
The paper “Regional disparity in the educational impact of COVID-19: a spatial difference-in-difference approach” which is considered as interesting, substantial and deep, is undoubtedly recommended to publication.
We are sincerely thankful to Reviewer #3 for thoroughly reviewing our manuscript. Your positive evaluation of the paper's content and overall quality is incredibly valued. Your insightful feedback on the methodology and results has played a pivotal role in refining the paper. Your expertise, as highlighted by your feedback, has provided us with valuable perspectives that have undoubtedly enhanced the research's significance and depth. Your efforts in reviewing our work are greatly appreciated, and we are grateful for the contribution you've made to its improvement.
