Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: A Literature Review

Simon Amez and Stijn Baert

No 12723, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We present the first systematic review of the scientific literature on smartphone use and academic success. We synthesise the theoretical mechanisms, empirical approaches, and empirical findings described in the multidisciplinary literature to date. Our analysis of the literature reveals a predominance of empirical results supporting a negative association between students' frequency of smartphone use and their academic success. However, the strength of this association is heterogeneous by (a) the method of data gathering, (b) the measures of academic performance used in the analysis, and (c) the measures of smartphone use adopted. The main limitation identified in the literature is that the reported associations cannot be given a causal interpretation. Based on the reviewed findings and limitations, directions for further research are discussed.

Keywords: literature review; academic performance; smartphone addiction; smartphone use; causality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I23 L86 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2019-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ore
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published - revised version published in: International Journal of Educational Research , 2020, 103, 10161

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Related works:
Working Paper: Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: a Literature Review (2019)
Working Paper: Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: a Literature Review (2019)
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