Devices and Daydreaming: The Effect of Smartphone Usage on Cognitive Lesson Avoidance

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: Identifying and Ameliorating Academic Risk of Failure for Adolescents in School

Abstract

Today’s youth were born into the era of widespread electronic communication. Smartphones now dominate daily interactions, especially among young people. Research indicates a number of problems derived from smartphone abuse, but there is not a well-constructed model to measure the problematic use of smartphones. Nor are there any studies on the connection between smartphone usage and cognitive lesson avoidance, such as daydreaming. To address this gap, we drew upon data of more than a thousand Swiss lower-secondary students. Our study 1) constructed a reliable, valid instrument to measure problematic smartphone usage among youth and 2) proved that problematic use of smartphone contributes to children’s cognitive lesson avoidance.

Authors

• Arvid Nagel, St.Gallen University of Teacher Education

• Perry P. Gao, Education Bridge Institute

• Horst Biedermann, Saint Gallen University of Teacher Education