Jake's Talent & Learning Newsletter: Put Your Phone Down?
Put Down Your Phone?
Greetings, everyone! And as always, a special welcome to those of you receiving this newsletter for the first time.
Are you reading this on your phone?
There's a good chance - but it may be hurting your learning retention...and hurting those nearby!
The general intuition is that the omnipresence of mobile devices might not be so great. The academic research agrees, and until now has focused on two reasons why: 'Selection Effect' and 'Switching Effect'. Having to process multiple inputs of any kind (e.g. a person and your phone) at once is reduces performance (Selection), as does constant oscillating between two different tasks (Switching).
However, a terrific new study looks at the impact of electronic devices and finds that even when there is no Switching or Selection Effects... looking at devices still drastically harms information retention - and not just for the person looking! The researchers looked at two identical academic courses - one where students were allowed to use devices and one where it was forbidden - and found that performance on final exams was significantly worse in the course where students were permitted devices.
Here's the kicker: Even the students in that course who could have used their phones and chose not to performed far worse! The research helps confirm the presence of the Social Effect of Distraction, which other laboratory studies have demonstrated.
What does this mean for us?
Good luck finding a meeting or conversation where someone isn't looking at a screen! It's unrealistic (and honestly, unproductive) to mandate a ban on all devices... so my recommendation is to be explicitly intentional about their use:
If you need to have your phone out at a meeting, call it out. Let others know up front that you may need to check it at times.
If you're having an important conversation, turn your computer screen away or put your device out of sight. Don't be afraid to make a show out of this, by the way! It sends a great signal that this conversation warrants your full attention.
Incorporate them! I love to use live-polling and participatory games that require mobile devices. If folks are going to be using them, at least make them work for you!
What are your thoughts to mobile devices? Do you have a workplace or personal policy?
Needless to say... my graduate students will be hearing about this study :)
As always, let me know if there are topics you'd like me to investigate for an upcoming Newsletter.