Articles week 8

Question 1

What did, Kessel et al - 2020-The impact of banning mobile phones in Swedish secondary schools, find?

Answer 1

Kessel et al (2020) find no improvement in student performance in schools that have introduced a mobile phone ban (Sweden).

Question 2

Why do Kessel et al - 2020, have different results?

Answer 2

1. Kessel et al (2020) have different results because they study a different country and school system as well as a somewhat different period.
2. Swedish schools have long made large investments in digital technology and ICT is intertwined in Swedish schools -> Structured use of digital technology.

Question 3

In the article of Kessel et al (2020), what do Beland & Murphy (2016) argue?

Answer 3

Beland & Murphy argue that ‘ban mobile phone use in schools because this is a very low-cost but effective policy to improve student performance.’

Question 4

… argue that small or no learning gains are to be expected in Sweden and countries with similar school systems and similar investments in information and communication technology.

Answer 4

Kessel et al (2020)

Question 5

What types of structured and unstructured use of your smartphone during class do you recognize yourself?

Answer 5

1. Structured use = using my phone for things like Kahoot.
2. Unstructured use = using my phone for entertainment like social media

Question 6

What did, Amez, S., & Baert, S. (2020). Smartphone use and academic performance, find?

Answer 6

Amez, S & Baert, S (2020) find that there is a negative association between smartphone use and academic performance (in tertiary education).

Question 7

What are theoretical mechanisms that could improve academic performance according to Amez, S., & Baert, S. (2020)?

Answer 7

1. Smartphone mobility: allows students to access the same services as a computer almost anywhere.
2. Easy accessibility: to these functionalities offers students the chance to search continuously for study-related information.
3. Quick sharing of information: between students and staff may contribute to more efficiency.

Question 8

What are theoretical mechanisms that could decrease academic performance according to Amez, S., & Baert, S. (2020)?

Answer 8

1. Entertainment/distraction: time spent on smartphone use is time lost for study activities.
2. Multitasking: not focusing on schoolwork
3. Health implications: smartphone use can decrease sleep quality and mental health which results in lower academic performance.

Question 9

• The main limitation identified in the literature is that existing studies all conduct correlational analyses and/or linear or logistic regression analyses on cross-sectional data so that their results cannot be given a causal interpretation.
• Another limitation is that 20 out of 23 review articles use self-reported measures of smartphone use in their analysis, which is not reliable due to socially desirable behaviour.
• A third shortcoming in the literature is the lack of research investigating the empirical validity of the theoretical mechanisms at work.
  -> Which article is this?

Answer 9

Amez, S., & Baert, S. (2020)