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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.3 – Updated November 2024

Presence of mobile phones

Overview

  • Influence: Presence of mobile phones
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Mobile/touch
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have a negative impact
  • Influence Definition: The presence of mobile phones in class (typically not related to the teaching and learning).

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 5
  • Number of studies: 144
  • Number of students: 345,316
  • Number of effects: 150
  • Weighted mean effect size: -0.24
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author First Author's Country Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Computers and Education Kates, Wu, & Coryn USA The effects of mobile phone use on academic performance: A meta-analysis. 2018 Presence of mobile phones in class 39 148,883 40 -0.32
Early Childhood Research Quarterly Mallawaarachchi, Anglim, Hooley, & Horwood Australia Associations of smartphone and tablet use in early childhood with psychosocial, cognitive and sleep factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  2022 Smartphone and tablet use in ECE 10 0 10 -0.18
Computers in Human Behavior Reports Sunday, Adesope, & Maarhuis USA The effects of smartphone addiction on learning: A meta-analysis.  2021 Smartphone addiction 44 147,943 45 -0.24
Journal of Behavioral Addictions Paterna, Alcarz-Ibanez, Aguilar-Parra, Salavera, Demetrovics, & Griffiths Spain Problematic smartphone use and academic achievement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.  2024 Problematic phone use 29 48,490 33 -0.22
Behavioral Sciences Böttger, Poschik & Zierer Germany Does the Brain Drain Effect Really Exist? A Meta-Analysis.  2023 Presence of mobile phones 22 0 22 -0.14
TOTAL/AVERAGE 144 345,316 150 -0.22
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