Another digital divide? Instructional delivery and pay scale inequity among traditional and online lecturers: A labor market analysis

If the use of online delivery methods requires specialized training in online technologies, is this specialized training reflected in lecturer pay? This paper investigates the discrepancy between salaries offered amongst adjunct lecturers utilizing traditional methods of instructional delivery versus those employing online instructional delivery methods. This study incorporates human capital theory and labor market theory to explore this question. A cross-classified random effects model utilizing data compiled through various sources, primarily from the US Department of Education, and online recruiting sources, such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, suggests very little variation in pay scale amongst traditional and online lecturers. Though several measures have been taken by various colleges and universities in an attempt to ensure pay scale equity, pay scale inequity relative to workloads and training still exists and remains for the most part unaddressed.