BREAKING: new study just dropped that shows compelling evidence that cell phone bans cause student grades to modestly increase. Grade increases are largest among low performing students.
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Impressive undertaking. Would be nice if the estimates were a bit more precise (as I'm sure the authors appreciate, since they originally aimed to have more schools), if we want to conclude there is much evidence of effects here. The preregistered tests are p = .02 and .07.
aug 5, 2025, 1:03 am • 5 0 • view
@danigraf.bsky.social vielleicht für Dich von Interesse, Du bist m.W. am Thema dran
aug 5, 2025, 6:30 am • 1 0 • view
Some other interesting findings from the phone ban study: Students exposed to the cell phone ban were substantially more (!) supportive of phone-use restrictions. The ban increased students' perceptions of greater benefits from these bans and reduced students preferences for unrestricted access.
aug 5, 2025, 12:48 am • 11 0 • view
Despite a mild rise in reported fear of missing out, there were no significant changes in overall student well-being, academic motivation, digital usage, or experiences of online harassment.
aug 5, 2025, 12:49 am • 9 1 • view
There were maybe some potential drawbacks. Spot checks of classrooms in the study revealed that students in the banned classes appear more distracted, possibly due to withdrawal from habitual phone checking. However, students did not report being more distracted.
aug 5, 2025, 12:49 am • 6 1 • view
Ultimately, the authors of the study conclude: "[Our] results suggest that in-class phone bans represent a low-cost, effective policy to modestly improve academic outcomes, especially for vulnerable student groups, while enhancing student receptivity to digital policy interventions."
aug 5, 2025, 12:49 am • 16 4 • view
It is interesting whether this conclusion really requires much quantitative evidence. Is it true if the effect is 0.01 SDs? Maybe so, not sure. I guess this gets at what study design here would be sufficient for policy choice.
aug 5, 2025, 1:05 am • 1 0 • view
Good point. I find this tidbit fascinating. bsky.app/profile/john...
aug 5, 2025, 1:16 am • 1 0 • view
"Removing Phones from Classrooms Improves Academic Performance" papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
aug 5, 2025, 12:50 am • 13 1 • view
My GFs high school instituted a cell phone ban last year and then never enforced it. Hope other districts and more successful.
aug 5, 2025, 1:38 am • 0 0 • view
Having taught through the era of the advent of smart phones, c. 2008 - 2009ish, to the end of last year I will always agree that cell phones have become destructive. That said please keep in mind the burden this adds to classroom teachers' job. Admin needs to step up if this is going to work.
aug 5, 2025, 1:33 am • 2 0 • view
On the tour for our kids' ms, they said phones go in lockers and stay there till the end, and that it isn't a problem, but it's a small school fed by an elementary that allows no phones, so easier to set the expectation early.
aug 5, 2025, 2:40 am • 2 0 • view
📌
aug 5, 2025, 1:28 am • 1 0 • view