Psychology Researcher Featured on The Academic Minute

Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences Melissa Huey, Ph.D., was featured on The Academic Minute, a daily segment on Northeast Public Radio featuring research that contributes to serving the public good. The segment, which was also promoted to readers of Inside Higher Ed, highlights her research on the psychological impact of smartphones in the college classroom. Huey and a colleague from California State University conducted a six-week experiment to see how students’ mindfulness, anxiety, and course comprehension were affected when smartphones were removed vs. when they were physically present in the classroom. At the end of the six weeks, students self-reported scores on course comprehension, mindfulness, and anxiety levels.

“Students who handed in their smartphones reported much higher comprehension and mindfulness scores. In addition, they reported lower levels of anxiety,” says Huey. “However, the opposite was true for those who kept their phones. These students reported lower comprehension and mindfulness scores and higher anxiety levels. Our findings show that educators need to make informed decisions about technology in the classroom.”