If your impression is that before the work and study days used to be more effective without the existence of the smartphone they are probably right.
Since an interesting research project has been generated where it has ended up verifying that in reality the simple fact of having the smartphone on the desk can be a serious factor of latent distraction among young students.
The dependence on our device and the constant rain of notifications that it generates from our social networks and applications would be a factor of considerable weight to keep permanently abreast of the screen, thereby interrupting the inertia of any concentration work.
For years it has been clear that dependence on these devices causes lack of sleep and anxiety, especially if they are used in spaces dedicated to rest, sleep and rest, such as bedrooms.
But there is an edge that has not been explored in depth: what happens among students when the device is present over their study area or activity.
Your smartphone distracts you even when it’s turned off
New research published in the most recent issue of Scientific Reports, has verified how smartphones affect cognitive performance among students.
The study involved 42 students between the ages of 20 and 34, divided into two groups. Where an experiment was applied among them that consisted of an attention task that the students had to perform during an online videoconference in the presence or absence of a smartphone.
The d2-R concentration and attention test was used to assess the attention of the students and the performance of the subjects was observed in two different scenarios.
In one group, students were asked to turn off their phones and place them on the desk, with the phones covered so the screens were not visible.
In the other group, the students turned off their phones and put them outside their rooms. Participants had to find and mark correct targets between characters and objects.
The test contained a physical sheet with 789 characters on 14 lines, with 20 seconds to process each line. The test was to be completed in four minutes and 40 seconds. Accuracy, speed, and attentional performance on the task were recorded.
In the end, the students had a lower attention span in the presence of a smartphone on their desk, even when it was turned off. In addition, a negative correlation was found between the dependence on the smartphone and the performance of their attention span.
In other words, the mere presence of a smartphone is a distracting factor for students or anyone who needs to focus.