Work

From distraction to dedication: Commitment and incentives against phone use in the classroom

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Phone usage in the classroom has been linked to worsened academic outcomes. We present findings from a field experiment conducted at a large public university in partnership with an app marketed as a soft commitment device that provides incentives to reduce phone use in the classroom. We find that app usage led to improvements in classroom focus, attendance, and overall academic satisfaction. Analysis of time spent outside the classroom suggests a potential substitution effect: students using the app allocated less time to study, particularly on campus. Overall, though statistically insignificant, we find improvements in transcript grades associated with app usage.

Source: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107082

Authors: Billur Aksoy, Lester Lusher, Scott Carrell

Institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Pittsburgh, IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,180