Date of Graduation
Summer 2020
Degree
Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Michael Clayton
Abstract
Students face distractions in their learning environments. This is true for all students, including college students. One such distraction for college students can be their cell phones. The purpose of this study was to decrease cell phone usage of college students in class using an interdependent group contingency with a multiple baseline research design across three classes. The study also collected data on class participation to discover if decreases in distraction might lead to increased class participation. Results of this study provide evidence to support the use of an interdependent group contingency to decrease student cell phone usage in class. During intervention, student cell phone usage decreased while class participation remained unchanged. These findings may prove useful to instructors in their quest to reduce student distractions and promote learning.
Keywords
Cell phone usage, class participation, interdependent group contingencies, college students, multiple baseline research design
Subject Categories
Applied Behavior Analysis | Psychology
Copyright
© Heather R. Becker
Recommended Citation
Becker, Heather R., "Cell Phone Use and Class Participation: An Interdependent Group Contingency" (2020). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 3554.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3554
