The effect of smartphone use and conversation type on impression formation and empathic concern
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Smartphones have become an imperative aspect of daily life. Misra, Cheng, Genevie and Yuan (2016) outlined the need for research, which focuses on the psychological and social consequences of such technology use, to progress at the same rate that technology is expanding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect smartphone use and conversation type had on forming impressions and empathic concern towards a dyadic conversation partner, during an in-person interaction. Participants in this study (N=40) were a combination of male and female students between the age of 18 and 51 years. Participants completed a version of The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), where the relatedness subscale was used to measure the impressions the participants formed of the confederate, during the experiment. An adapted version of the empathic concern subscale from the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980) measured empathic concern felt by the participants towards the confederate. Results from the study suggested a significant difference between phone use and the impressions formed of the confederate, by the participants. There was also a large, positive linear relationship between impressions formed and empathic concern. Strengths and limitations of the study were outlined, followed by implications of the study and suggestions for future research.
Source: Figshare
Author: Gillian Kelly (18136508)
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7065602103