The use of existing smartphone applications to monitor cellphone screen time could increase focused or mindful cellphone use, which in turn could lead to higher cellphone usage, according to research recently published by Kawe Abhari of San Diego State University and Isaac Waghefi of the City University of New York. Leads to perceived productivity. and user satisfaction. The research was recently published in
(THCI).
Abhari (associate professor of management information systems at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business) and Waghefi (assistant professor of information systems at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College) noted that the negative effects of cellphone screen time (intolerance, intolerance) were established. There was enough research. withdrawal, and struggle with job-related tasks), their research was designed to determine whether self-regulatory behaviors could lead to modified user behavior leading to more positive outcomes.
“We recognized that people who tracked their cellphone use and set goals around that use experienced increased productivity and satisfaction with their use as they met their stated objectives,” Abhari said. “Previous research has shown that goal setting raises performance expectations and we wanted to see if this theory held true for smartphone screen time as well.”
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To determine this, researchers surveyed 469 participating university graduate students in California, New York and Hawaii. The three-week survey required all participants to complete four questionnaires and about half of them downloaded a screen-monitoring application to their phones. This app allowed users to monitor and set limits or targets with their cellphone screen time.
When the results were analyzed, the researchers measured the perceived productivity of screen time as reported by the people surveyed, as well as the amount of screen time and fatigue associated with self-monitoring. They also reviewed participants’ satisfaction with the productivity achieved through cellphone screen time. “Self-monitoring appears to be necessary to encourage optimized use of smartphones,” Abhari said. “The results suggest that reducing screen time is more likely to result in increased user productivity if not optimized.”
The link between cellphone addiction and fatigue
However, the researchers also found that self-monitoring induces fatigue and weakens the effect on productivity, although it was not a significant factor influencing the relationship between satisfaction with self-monitoring and productivity achievement. In conclusion, Abhari and Waghefi determined that uncontrolled cellphone use (or cellphone addiction) can negatively affect people’s lives, given the amount of screen time monitored by monitoring screen time—specifically, with specific goals in mind. Monitoring – can result in positive results and high overall user satisfaction.
“This study could motivate system developers to embed features in mobile devices that enable self-monitoring,” said Abhari. “These features can improve quality screen time and enhance the relationship between humans and digital technology.”
Source: Eurekalert
