STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

A Phenomenological Study of Students’ Experiences on Smartphone Addiction

A Research Title Proposal

Presented to the Faculty of the

Humanities and Social Sciences (Track)

Senior High School Department

By:

Czarina Abigail L. Rodriguez

Alyza Mae S. Vinuya

Mecca Angel M. Serano

Kharle Ian King M. Almario

Kyan Donn A. Castro

Nicole Angela B. Mercado

Shekinah Danielle G. Queg

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In today’s generation, smartphones has affected and changed the way people live. It has

made people’s lives more proficient and at ease. There is hardly anyone who has not been

changed by the advances in technology and computers of today’s society. In today’s civilization,

transportation, communication, and education have been greatly developed from new

technological advancements. Many people have lesser stress in their lives because there are new

useful hi-tech inventions created each day to help them do things quicker and easier.

The use of smartphone is more on demand lately. The reason is that smartphones have

high mobility so that people can use them anywhere and whenever they want. Not only that, its

multifunctional features makes it easier to do many things (Millward Brown, 2014). One of the

advantages of gadgets such as smartphone is the ability to connect with the internet which makes

it easier to access various things in the world. Also, it can be used for a variety of purposes

ranging from playing games, listening to music, watching videos, accessing information and

social media via the internet (Nielsen Company, 2011).

Smartphone use among teenagers is a common phenomenon. According to Wei and Lo

(2010), there are at least six main reasons why individuals use gadgets such as smartphones. The

six reasons are to seek information, social functionality, affection, style, mobility, and

accessibility.

The presence of smartphone can connect teens to their friends more easily through social

media and chat apps, as teenagers do not even need to directly face-to-face with their friends to

communicate (Rothman, 2015).

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Although there are many positive impacts of smartphones that facilitate an individual,

excessive usage is not always a good thing. The excessive use of smartphones usually occurs

because it is used as a means of entertainment, such as playing games, especially to boys. Girls

mostly used smartphones for social functions such as social media or chat (Srivastava, 2015).

This study can disperse awareness among participants and can help the researchers to

elaborate their knowledge and conception about smartphone addiction. This will serve as portend

to what are the causes of smartphone addiction and how addiction takes place.

Smartphone addiction has negative effects on an individual’s life, whether in health,

academics, social, or family. Regarding health, Rosen et al. (2014) found that the use of

smartphone can predict decreased physical activity, poor diet, and increased likelihood of obesity

in adolescents. In academics, smartphone addiction negatively affects academic achievement,

because teens are more easily distracted in the classroom and when working on tasks if

smartphones are present; and they have issues related to time management ability (Pierce &

Vaca, Srivastava, Hong et al. in Al-Barashdi, Bouazza, & Jabur, 2015). In social life, excessive

smartphone use plays a role in the lack of face-to-face interaction, since teenagers are more

likely to communicate using short messages through smartphones (Srivastava, 2015).

Even the use of smartphone can also interfere with the quality of face-to-face interaction

with others because many people keep using their smartphones when talking to others (Drago,

2015).

The researchers want to discover what and how individuals experience smartphone

addiction that’s why they are seeking this research. Smartphone addiction has emerged among

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

senior high school students at the Guagua National Colleges that’s why the researchers chose to

explore this problem.

Background of the Locale

The study will be conducted in the Guagua National High Colleges (GNC) located at Sta.

Filomena Guagua, Pampanga.

Guagua National Colleges (GNC) is one of the oldest school in Guagua, Pampanga. It

was originally established as Guagua National Institute (GNI) on June 18, 1918. Rev. Fr,

Nicanor M. Banzali started the school at that time with the support of a few- oriented families of

Guagua and approval of the Archbishop of Manila, Monsign or Michael O. Doherty.

On December 8, 1941, GNI temporarily closed its doors because of the outbreak of

World War II.

On January 01, 1946, GNC was able to acquire ownership of its present location in Rep.

Eligio Lagman St, St. Filomena, Guagua Pampanga.

In 1949, the institute became a College. GNI was renamed to Guagua National Colleges.

GNC is a private college and a member in good standing of the Catholic Educational Association

of the Philippines (CEAP). GNC proudly introduces their academic strand offer for Senior High

school.

The participants will be interviewed in their room or any comfortable place that the

participant will choose to. The researchers chose the locale of the study because it will give the

researchers the needed information which is the students’ lived experiences on smartphone

addiction.

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Statement of the Problem

This phenomenological study aims to explore and understand the students’ lived

experiences on smartphone addiction among senior high school students in Guagua National

Colleges. This research would like to answer the question: What and how addiction takes place

among the Senior High School students during the (A.Y. 2020 – 2021).

Specifically, to sought the following questions:

1. What are the lived experiences on smartphone addiction of the senior high school students at

Guagua National Colleges?

2. How do participants of the study interpret the meaning of their experiences on smartphone

addiction?

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be of a great help to the society, teachers, students, and

future researchers.

SOCIETY. This study can help to increase the intellectual rate of individuals because

they gained enough knowledge and understanding on how to use smartphones appropriately and

effectively. This study will also help the individuals to focus on achieving their goals to have a

permanent job. With this, individuals can help to foster our country’s economic rate.

TEACHERS. This study will benefit the educators in such way that they will know what

they might do so that students will be more focus on their academic performance. In addition,

they could suggest action to address the proper use of smartphone and also help thrive guidelines

on how to become a responsible user of smartphones.

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

STUDENTS. The study will benefit the students in such way that they will have a deeper

understanding regarding the function of smartphones to their life in accordance with their lived

experiences on smartphone addiction.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This research will address as their reference or guide if they

want to study the students’ lived experiences on smartphone addiction and they may use this in a

wider perspective and can be more elaborated in the future.

Scope and Delimitations

This study mainly focused on the lived experiences on smartphone addiction of the

students in Grade 11 of Guagua National Colleges A.Y. 2020-2021. It covers what are the

experiences of the participants correlation to smartphone addiction and also the characterization

of lived experiences and the interpretation of each experience.

Theoretical Framework

The Uses and Gratification Theory fits most with smartphone addiction. The uses and

gratifications theory strives to understand what people do with media outlets and the reasons

behind their decisions and actions. Katz and Blumler describe the concept as, “the social and

psychological origins of needs which generate expectations of the mass media and other sources

which lead to differential patterns of media exposure (or engagement in other activities) resulting

in needs gratifications and other consequences, perhaps mostly unintended ones” (Katz, Blumler,

& Gurevitch, 2012). The Uses and Gratification theory discusses the effects of the media

on people. It explains how people use the media for their own need and get satisfied

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

when their needs are fulfilled. In other words, it can be said that the theory argues what

and how people do with media rather than what media does to people.

Conceptual Framework

The Input-Process-Output (IPO) Model is a functional graph that identifies the inputs,

outputs, and required processing tasks required to transform inputs into outputs. This model is

the graphical presentation of the methodology of the study wherein the inputs consist of the

demographic profile of the participants including age, gender, and their lived experiences. The

inputs will undergo with the process of direct or interview method and observation method. This

process will result into an output of interpreting and exploration of the students’ experiences on

smartphone addiction.

Figure1:Input-Process-Output(IPO)Model

• Participants' Profile ( Age, Gender, Participants' lived experience on

• Direct or Interview Method

• Students' Lived Experiences on Smartphone Addiction

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Definition of Terms

To make the study easier to understand, the following terms are defined operationally

and/or lexically:

Addiction

This word means the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing,

or activity.

Excessive

Means exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal.

Gadget

This refers to an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but

often thought of as a novelty.

Lived experiences

It is used to describe the first-hand accounts and impressions of living as a member of a

minority or oppressed group.

Smartphone

This refers to a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer,

typically having a touchscreen interface, Internet access, and an operating system capable of

running downloaded applications.

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Review of Related Scholarship

Our world is ever changing and advancing in the realm of science and technology. Many

of us depend on gadget such as smartphones to get us through the day, to do our job, to get

around, and to find certain things (Adel, et. Al., 2012). According to (Jackson et al.2012) almost

everyone who uses smartphones spends a lot of their time in a day using the smartphones itself.

There are various students that state the negative effects experienced by millennials/adults who

use smartphone excessively.

Mostly affected of gadgets and smartphone addiction is teens. Since these inventions are

useful and can give a lot of entertainment such as games, texting, calls, media and many more. In

addition, they give more attention to their smartphone than their studies and academic

performance (Studymode.com, 2016).

Smartphone addiction is a maladaptive behavior of media usage with characteristics of

excessive smartphone use, difficulty to control and interference with daily activities (Kwan &

Leung, 2015; Kwon et al., 2013).

Addiction to smartphone is causing significant loss of productivity as well as problems in

interpersonal relationships. Recently an incident where a teenager committed suicide on losing

his mobile phone has shaken the nation to its root. Such slavery for gadgets are indeed

worrisome. We often witness people crossing busy roads and busy intersections and railway

tracks listening to ipods or talking over the phone. This has led to increase in the number of

accidents. Over-use of smartphone can affect social and psychological well-being and health.

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

The article was about a teenager boy from china who sold his “kidney” just to buy an

iPhone for himself. Corresponding incidences and trends in developing nations like India are also

on the rise, (Davey S, Davey A, 2014).

A study published in the National Communication Association's journal on 2015,

research has shown that students who text in class generally recall less about the classroom

content than those who do not. Similarly, those who used smartphones in class took notes of

poorer quality, detracting from another cognitive process by which students integrate new

material.

It is also found in a study by J.H. Kuzennekoff, et. al. that the frequency of messaging

using smartphone was found to be a factor in the interruption of learning. They have greatly

affected many aspects of our lives (Howe, W., 2012).

The NNN-AMIC Special Report of Lara P. Lina (2012) revealed that the Philippines is

experiencing 75 percent mobile penetration. One-fifth of its population can also be found

online. That means more than 24 million Filipinos are able to log into their Facebook, Twitter,

and Friendster accounts regularly. The Filipino’s familiarity and mastery over the English

language could be the reason behind Philippine online popularity. Many Filipinos are active

communicators in both SMS and internet. The researchers assume that the websites often visited

by the users definitely have an impact in their lives particularly in the way they communicate.

Today’s generation of adolescents (born from 1995 to the present) are often referred to as

Z generations, millennials, internet generation, or digital natives. This generation tends to have

some problems if they are separated to their smartphones in this era of globalization. They

always want to get short, up-to-date, and having real-time information with picture attached

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

(Törocsik, Szucs, & Kehl, 2014). This is supported by a research conducted by Moeller et al.

(2010). They asked teenagers not to use their smartphones and chat for 24 hours. The results

showed that teenagers displayed excessive anxiety as well as showing dependence symptom of

smartphones.

Another study hoped to find correlation in smartphone addiction is its numerous effects

on adolescents. They analyzed not just academic performance, but social skills, relationships,

sense of reality and violent behavior. Their conclusion regarding internet and smartphone use

resulting its impact on academic performance was “although playing specific games has

immediate positive effects on specific spatial, iconic, and attentional skills used by the gamer, we

need more research to see if long term smartphone and Internet use (both game and nongame)

can lead to long term improvements in cognitive skills and academic achievement”

(Subrahmanyam, K. 2014).

Some studies report that smartphone users complain about a headache, hand tremor and

finger discomfort. In his research, Berolo noted that mobile hand-held device users complain of

discomfort at least on one area of upper extremities, back or neck. Long-term usage of the device

leads to additional tension on tendons, muscles, and parametric tissue, which could result in

visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome. In the similar studies on working with desktop, the

scientists recommend regular rest periods, stretching, and exercises, (Sophia Berolo, 2010).

Interestingly, another study from July 2017 by researchers at Ben-Gurion University in

Israel found that heavy smartphone users display changes in social cognition, impaired attention,

and reduced right prefrontal cortex excitability. Researchers found that smartphone-

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

addicted teenagers had significantly higher scores in depression, anxiety, insomnia severity, and

impulsivity.

Objectives of the Study

The objective of this study is to inform the addictive users of smartphone the ways on

how to manage the smartphone effectively. Also, to explore the lived experiences of senior high

school students correlation to smartphone addiction, to discover how individuals experience

smartphone addiction and what causes the behavior to happen, to have a deeper understanding

regarding the extreme usage of smartphones on the life of the user. In addition, to aspire students

to learn the proper usage of smartphone and to encourage the users to use smartphones

effectively in school campus especially in classrooms.

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

Participants’ Characteristics

The participants of this study were the addictive users of smartphone of the Senior High

School students of Guagua National Colleges-Regular in the academic year of 2020-2021. The

researchers selected the participants because they best reflect and manifest of having excessive

usage of smartphone.

The researchers had come up with nine students as stated in the figure 1. These selected

participants were from the Senior High School students of Guagua National Colleges.

Figure 1

PARTICIPANTS GENDER STRAND

Participant 1 Male STEM

Participant 2 Female STEM

Participant 3 Female HUMSS

Participant 4 Male HUMSS

Participant 5 Male STEM

Participant 6 Male ABM

Participant 7 Male HUMSS

Participant 8 Female HUMSS

Participant 9 Female ABM

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Sampling Procedure

The researchers used purposive sampling in choosing the participants because the study

aimed to explore the lived experiences of students. The researchers chose the participants

because they have the needed information which is the lived experiences correlation to

smartphone addiction.

Sample Size

The researchers conducted interviews with the Senior High School students of Guagua

National Colleges-Regular of which total population is 1, 034. The sample size was 9

participants.

Research Design

The researchers used the qualitative type of research in descriptive way which analyzes

the data gathered about the said study. It is intended to understand a phenomenological study

about the experiences of the Senior High School students in Guagua National Colleges-Regular.

Qualitative research is a type of social science research that collects and works with non-

numerical data and seeks to interpret meaning from these data that help understand social life

through the study of targeted populations or places.

Data Collection and Tools

This research was conducted using interview method. The researchers used direct method

or interview method because the answers will be more precise and liable if it is person to person

encounter. The researchers prepared semi-structured type of interview because it is a guided

conversation, the interviewee allowed the participants to provide additional information.

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Chapter 3

RESULTS

This chapter contains the data gathered for the purpose of the study. There were four

main themes emerged in the participants data during the data analysis, including: (a) hours

participants spend a day in using smartphone; (b) purposes for using smartphone and why it has

become addiction; (c) lived experiences on smartphone an addiction; (d) interpretation on

smartphone addiction.

Theme 1: Time participants spend a day in using smartphone

One of the most important information or data is the time spent by the participants in

using their smartphone. Even to claim that somebody is addicted to a certain thing, the time

factor is very important for analysis. Most participants state that beside or even during their class

hours, free hours and daily activities they are using their time in making themselves busy with

the smartphones and services (internet, social sites, gaming etc.). So it can be even told that

smartphones are the best friend of the present youth to spend time with them. Some thoughts are:

“I use my smartphone 7 hours in a day” (P8); According to (P3), “I spent minimum of 7 hours

and maximum of 10 hours a day in using my smartphone.” Another participant said that, “In

using my smartphone, I spent 8 hours of my time daily.” (P1);(P7) said that, “I spent 9 hour a

day in using my smartphone”; “Daily, I spent 6 to 7 hour in using my smartphone” (P5).

The analysis of this data symbolizes that the degree use of the smartphones and services

among these young mass is very high, leading to the addiction towards the smartphone devices.

Another participant said that, “I spent 7 to 8 hours a day in using my smartphone” (P2); “In

using my smartphone, I spent 9 hours a day” (P4); “In a day, I spent 7 to 9 hours in using my

smartphone” (P6); “I spent 8 hours a day in using my smartphone” (P9).

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

The user can be claimed as an addict here, as having the knowledge of the consequences

of the excessive usage of the smartphone as they are using them to such extent.

Theme 2: Purposes for using smartphone and why it becomes an addiction

Nowadays, cell phones are very popular. Nearly each of us has it. We like talking on

smartphones, sending SMS, and playing games. Relationships are built through phones, key

boards and keypads are becoming the keys to our teen’s heart. Smartphones create a distraction

from real life experiences and because of their ability to be taken anywhere.

Most participants conveyed that the purpose why they use their smartphone in school is

that smartphones have high mobility so that they can use them anywhere and whenever they

want. Also, to connect with the internet which makes it easier to access various things in the

world. In addition, they use smartphone as a means of entertainment, such as playing games.

Some views are: “I use my smartphone for communication and education such as for

researching certain things that is related to my home works and projects” (P1); “I often use my

smartphone for socializing and watching korean drama and kpop artist” (P3); “I use my

smartphone for instant messaging, group chats, and mobility” (P7); “During my free time in

school, I use my smartphone for entertainment such us playing online games”(P5).

Things have changed dramatically since the stone age of smartphones. It can be a

distraction in students’ learning because students are distracted in the classroom. Also, it pull

students away from their focus so that the advantages of the tool often goes to waste.

According to (P8), “I often use my smartphone for entertainment factor that contain the

activities like watching movies, sports, gaming in the internet, social networking instead of doing

my tasks in school”; “During class hours, I use my smartphone to check the time and also I

cannot help myself from checking it from time to time even when my teacher is about to

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STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES ON SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

confiscate it”(P6); “I use my smartphone when I get bored and also to take pictures inside the

school”; “I cannot deny the fact that I use my smartphone inside the campus even in class hours

because I cannot control myself from checking at it time after time”(P9); “I know to myself that

I need to do my projects but I chose to watch vlogs in YouTube by using my smartphone which

leads to procrastination”(P4); “I often use my smartphone for socializing even when I am doing

my homework and because of that, I lose focus and choose to use my smartphone rather than on

doing my tasks in school”(P2).

Those answer proved that excessive usage of smartphone can lead the student or the user

to distraction. It has both pros and cons, but it depends on the person what they take and what

they discard in their life.

Theme 3: Lived experiences on smartphone addiction

Today’s generation live in a world enveloped by smartphones. Smartphones have become

a central force that fuels the rhythm of our daily lives and we spend more and more of our time

on using it.

The participants have agreed that possessing smartphone enables the user to have lesser

stress in their lives because it can help them to do things quicker and easier. Correspondingly,

one said that “My smartphone helps me a lot when it comes to my education, it can able me to

access on lectures and other school requirements easier” (P1); “I always want to be updated

with what is happening around the world that is why I am using my smartphone rather than on

reading newspapers”(P7); “Because of smartphone, I can able to finish my homework faster

because in just one click information will appear”(P3). People can also use smartphones

anywhere and whenever they want. It can also help an individual to communicate with other

person in just a click. As one participants stated, “Smartphone can connect me to my friends

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more easily through social media and chat apps, as we do not even need to directly face-to-face

with them to communicate”(P5).

Most of the smartphone users like to spend at least part of their free time playing online

games but some what starts out as innocent recreation can become an excessive use. Gamers

spend so much time on playing, that their personal relationships get neglected. According to

(P9), “Most of my non-school hours are spent on my smartphone to play online games and

because of that I fall asleep in school”; “I often choose to use my smartphone for playing games

rather than seeing friend which will result my relationships with friends and family members

suffer because I am spending more time gaming than talking to or going out with my loved

ones”(P2); “I am being irritable when I am not holding my smartphone and not playing an online

game”(P4).

Entertainment is generally regarded as the sense of pleasure for a student and even for an

individual. Here, the entertainment factor contains the activities like watching movies, sports,

gaming in the internet, social networking, chatting with friends on social medias. “I spent a large

amount of time online, especially at night which results to isolation from my family and friends

because of my online relationships”(P8);“Smartphone can able me to communicate with my

loved ones quicker and without hardship”(P6).

So the analysis of this source data can be understood that the voracious use of the

smartphones and services are pleasure driven rather than necessity driven. As here most of the

students are using their smartphones and the services provided by them for the purpose of

entertainment. In this case the use of these products is satisfying the characteristic of addiction.

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Theme 4: Interpretation on smartphone addiction

In this era of technology, the dependency of the present generation on the smartphones

and the services provided by them is in the peak position, and they can’t be refrained from

their use completely. “Long hours of playing online games on smartphone will affect our

performance in school or failing to work at our optimum level. Completing homework, studying

for test, and efforts during school will become very low and excessive usage of smartphone can

be harmful if we are unable or unwilling to participate in any interests or extracurricular

activities other than using our smartphones”(P9); “Smartphones causes distraction in the class

room, big nuisance in calm and silent places like libraries, procrastination, and often hanging

with the smartphone rather than family and friends”(P5).

If a student is not interested in being active in classroom, then the student will find a

way to procrastinate such as sleeping and other things. (P5) said that “As we know it takes a lot

of time to make a habit and even take more time to get rid of it. Whatever positive available in

the world, we must practice that. This is also true in case of using the smartphones. (P9)

Suggested that “Their use should be need driven rather than luxury driven and they should not

compromise with other necessary activities of daily living. In other word, a limit in the use of

every thin is desired. The individual who knows this limit remains happier in the long run. So the

issue of this smartphone addiction among us should be addressed as the foundation of any

society to grow or develop.

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Chapter 4

DISCUSSION

This chapter deals with the summary of the study and conclusions drawn. The findings of

the study are discussed in this chapter. The discussion is mainly focused on the data gathered in

order to answer the questions posed in Chapter 1.

Summary of Findings

The main purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of students on

smartphone addiction. The study consisted of nine participants and conducted inside the vicinity

of Guagua National Colleges. The tool used for this study was direct or person person interview

method for it allows the participants to provide additional information. All participants said that

they access their smartphone 28-39 time inside the campus to check for notification in contact

with their loved ones and mostly, they tend to manipulate their smartphones than to improve

their academic performance in school. Most participants stated that even during their class hours,

free hours and daily activities they are using their time in making themselves busy with the

smartphones and its services (internet, social sites, gaming etc.). So it can be even told that

smartphones are the best friend of the present youth to spend time with them. Smartphones create

a distraction from real life experiences and the use of the smartphones and its services among

these young mass is very high, leading to the addiction towards the smartphone devices. Most

of the participants use smartphone for a large period of time.

The participants use their smartphones more and to do less physical work as compare to

others. These participants of this study often spend less time with their friends and the frequency

of visiting their home is low. They prefer indirect communication through social media than

direct interaction with others.

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The participants give most of their time of the total time spent with the smartphone, for

the purpose of entertainment. The degree of dependency of the participants on their smartphones

is high. This also suggests that participants who show high level of dependency on the use the

devices and services are becoming addicts of smartphones. Hence, it may be assumed that there

would be some health problems of this excessive use of smartphones.

Conclusion

The present study is a promising study in the sense that we are living in a world of

knowledge and technology. Changes in the scientific world are very fast. Keeping ones speed

along with the change is definitely a challenging task. Hence, one must learn how to exercise

control and to know what is important and what is not important at a specified time. Knowledge

management, time management and setting the priorities of life should guide our behavior in

using the smartphones. Last but not the least, use of any product should be necessity driven

rather than luxury driven, so that we can derive maximum pleasure and happiness.

Recommendation

On the basic of findings of the study the following recommendations were made: A

similar study can be done in various other settings; A similar study can be done with large

samples; The sample size of the present study is not representative one. Hence, future studies

may incorporate a large representative sample. Paucity of time led to restrict the study to have

much deeper and wider interpretation and understanding of excessive smartphone usage to

confirm the findings of the current study. Therefore, similar study may be done with a wider

perspective.

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