Determining Typical Smartphone Usage: What Data Do We Need?

Abstract

Problematic smartphone use is an emerging issue in behavioral addiction research. At the same time, measuring smartphone use with mobile apps has become increasingly common. However, understanding how much data are necessary requires careful consideration if the field is to move forward. Here, we examine how much time should be spent measuring mobile phone operation to reliably infer general patterns of usage and repetitive checking behaviors. In a second analysis, we consider whether a self-report measure of problematic smartphone use is associated with real-time patterns of use. Results suggest that smartphone usage collected for a minimum of 5 days will reflect typical weekly usage (in hours), but habitual checking behaviors (uses lasting <15 seconds) can be reliably inferred within 2 days. These measurements did not reliably correlate with a self-reported measure. We conclude that patterns of smartphone use are repetitive and our results suggest that checking behavior is a particularly consistent and efficient measure when quantifying typical and problematic smartphone usage.

Are smartphones really that bad? Improving the psychological measurement of technology-related behaviors

“…This in part explains why many people develop strong psychological attachments to them (Belk, 2013;Bodford et al, 2017;Fullwood et al, 2017;Shaw et al, 2016). This 'individualized' perspective of smartphone usage fits well within the framework of the Uses and Gratifications model and reflect consistent, yet individualized patterns of behavior (Katz et al, 1974;Wilcockson et al, 2018). Therefore, people appear to often use technology in order to gratify very personal needs.…”

“…For example, the quantity of short checking behaviors observed in research conducted in 2018 for example, (Ellis et al, 2018b) are remarkably consistent with those recorded in 2015 and 2009 (Andrews et al, 2015;Oulasvirta et al, 2011). In addition, while at a population level it would appear that smartphone use is high, within-participant patterns are consistent and establishing a true absolute baseline of typical usage for an individual appears possible (Fullwood et al, 2017;Wilcockson et al, 2018).…”

“…It would appear that objectively measured time spent on a device may correlate with some self-report scales or duration estimates, but this relationship appears patchy. Current scales have therefore yet to demonstrate an ability to predict comparatively simple behaviors that appear to be stable within participants (Ellis et al, 2018a;Wilcockson et al, 2018).…”

The “online brain”: how the Internet may be changing our cognition

“…Furthermore, even when not using the Internet for any specific purpose, smartphones have introduced widespread and habitual “checking” behaviours, characterized by quick but frequent inspections of the device for incoming information from news, social media, or personal contacts. These habits are thought to be the result of behavioural reinforcement from “information rewards” that are received immediately on checking the device, potentially engaging the cortico‐striatal dopaminergic system due to their readily available nature.…”

Digital detox: The effect of smartphone abstinence on mood, anxiety, and craving

“…In recent years, a growing body of research has focused on the potential problems associated with excessive smartphone use (e.g., Pan et al, 2019;Kim et al, 2019;Lee et al, 2019;Wilcockson, Ellis, & Shaw, 2018). However, Billieux, Maurage, Lopez-Fernandez, Kuss, and Griffiths (2015) argue that very little evidence supports the notion that smartphone use can be considered a form of behavioural addiction.…”