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Smartphones can be a distraction from other tasks
Are you experiencing distractions at work, frequently reaching for your smartphone for aimless browsing? A common approach to address this issue is placing your phone out of easy access. However, new research suggests this strategy might not be entirely effective in curbing digital distractions at work.
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Maxi Heitmayer of the London School of Economics and Political Science notes the various strategies people employ to avoid smartphone distraction, ranging from turning devices face down and concealing them under notebooks to, in some cases, more drastic measures. Heitmayer, who has conducted prior studies on phone use, observed that individuals interact with their devices approximately every five minutes.
Study on Smartphone Distraction
To investigate the effectiveness of this strategy, Heitmayer and his team conducted a study involving 22 participants—university students and office workers aged 22 to 31. Participants were observed working on laptops in a private room under controlled conditions. In one session, participants had their smartphones within arm’s reach. In a subsequent session, the devices were placed 1.5 meters away on a separate desk, requiring them to physically stand up to access them. This research aimed to quantify the impact of physical distance on smartphone distraction.
Key Findings: Distraction Migrates to Laptops
The research findings indicated that participants spent an average of 23 minutes engaging in non-work-related activities on their smartphones when the devices were readily available. This time decreased to 16 minutes when phones were placed further away. However, the total work time remained unchanged. Instead of increased productivity, participants redirected their leisure time to their laptops, primarily engaging with social media. Heitmayer explains, “While smartphone usage may decrease, the habit of prolonged scrolling on social media simply shifts to the laptop.”
Underlying Causes of Distraction
Daantje Derks from Erasmus University Rotterdam suggests that the issue is not the device itself, but rather the “underlying activity”. She posits that the true sources of distraction are activities such as social media, online gaming, or other digital diversions, regardless of the device used.
Need for Further Research in Real-World Settings
Derks also emphasizes the need for further research conducted in more natural working environments to validate these preliminary outcomes. She notes that the current study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, which may not fully reflect the complexities of typical work environments where individuals interact with colleagues and face more dynamic situations. These factors could potentially influence how people manage distractions and their overall work habits.