Poster #92 - Media in the Moment: An Ecological Momentary Assessment of the Digital Media Context in Early Childhood

• In Event: Poster Session 08

Abstract

The majority of research on media use in the digital age during early childhood has consisted of parental reports or experimental lab research, both of which tend to be low on validity. The purpose of the current study was to use Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture early childhood media use in the moment it occurs. Participants included 231 parent-child dyads (M child age = 41.17 months) who completed an EMA of child media use over a one-week period of time. If children happened to be using media (or be in a room where media was present) when parents received the notification, parents were asked to take a 10-15 second video of their child. These videos were coded in the current study using a coding scheme to capture the content and context around media use in early childhood (including the environment, child behavior, and media characteristics). Results revealed that children were most likely to view media on a television or tablet. Although most children were paying attention to media, about half were also physically active while consuming media. Another person was present in the majority of videos with children, most frequently being siblings or peers. Most children showed a very flat and calm affect while viewing media. These findings were generally consistent across gender and family income. Overall, this study confirms previous research that uses other methods, but provides additional insight into the importance of the specific context during early childhood media use in the digital age.

Authors

• Sarah M Coyne, Brigham Young University

• Madison K. Memmott-Elison, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Hailey Holmgren, Brigham Young University

• Megan Gale

• Rachel F Barr, Georgetown University

• Chenae Christensen-Duerden, Brigham Young University

• Sarah Ashby, Brigham Young University
  Presenting Author

• Sara Brown