Smartphones and Scatterbrains: Technology Use and Attention Span
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Family and Consumer Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Patrick Cushen
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Technology use is becoming more and more prevalent, especially the use of smartphones. This study will attempt to examine the relationship between smartphone use and attention span. Participants will be complete surveys that measure smartphone addiction and self-reported adult ADHD symptoms as well as complete a computerized attention/memory task. Additionally, some groups of students will be asked to leave their cell phones with the researcher during the research session while others will be allowed to keep their cellphones in their own possession. Analysis of the data is expected to show that self-reported smartphone use will be positively related to self-reported ADHD symptoms and negatively related to performance on the computerized memory tasks. It is also hypothesized that the groups who give up their phones will score lower on the attention task due to the distraction of being without their device. Better understanding the relationship between regular smartphone use and attention will help to further comprehend whether overall smartphone usage by the general public may need to be reduced.
Keywords: technological media, smartphone addiction, attention, memory
Fall Scholars Week 2018 Event
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
Smartphones and Scatterbrains: Technology Use and Attention Span
Technology use is becoming more and more prevalent, especially the use of smartphones. This study will attempt to examine the relationship between smartphone use and attention span. Participants will be complete surveys that measure smartphone addiction and self-reported adult ADHD symptoms as well as complete a computerized attention/memory task. Additionally, some groups of students will be asked to leave their cell phones with the researcher during the research session while others will be allowed to keep their cellphones in their own possession. Analysis of the data is expected to show that self-reported smartphone use will be positively related to self-reported ADHD symptoms and negatively related to performance on the computerized memory tasks. It is also hypothesized that the groups who give up their phones will score lower on the attention task due to the distraction of being without their device. Better understanding the relationship between regular smartphone use and attention will help to further comprehend whether overall smartphone usage by the general public may need to be reduced.
Keywords: technological media, smartphone addiction, attention, memory