Forschungsvorhaben zur Untersuchung von Mediennutzung und Studienerfolg
Third party funded individual grant
Start date : 01.08.2017
End date : 30.09.2019
Project details
Short description
The main objective of the project was to identify factors influencing media use and to uncover causal relationships in order to derive starting points for interventions. Self-control and the fear of missing out were identified as key influencing factors that are also suitable for interventions because they can be changed and trained. Although cognitive measures (e.g. derived from school grades) and media use motives are also related to media use behaviour, they are of secondary importance when it comes to predicting
problematic, dysfunctional use.
Scientific Abstract
The main objective of the project funded by the Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center for Economics and Society was to identify factors influencing media use and to uncover causal relationships in order to derive starting points for interventions. As essential influencing factors, which due to their changeability and trainability also for interventions, could improve self-control and Fear of Missing Out can be identified. Cognitive measures (e.g. derived from school grades) and media use motives also show connections with media use behaviour but they are of minor importance when it comes to predicting problematic, dysfunctional use.
A first transfer of the results from the longitudinal study took place through the further development of our training against digital stress. This has been conceptually expanded (in the form of a combined classroom and online training) as well as supplemented in terms of content with exercises on the two effective factors self-control and Fear of Missing Out. The training was successfully evaluated on students and is currently being tested with professionals.
Media literacy training is a form of intervention that targets the level of the individual media user. However, further conclusions can be drawn from the results of the longitudinal study. These include the fact that organisations (e.g. companies, but also educational institutions) can support functional media use and that they also share responsibility for protecting employees from information overload and stress caused by media use. Measures that reduce distractions, interruptions and multitasking requirements make it easier for people with less self-control to work on a task in a concentrated (and productive) manner. It is also advisable to communicate clear expectations or rules (e.g. with regard to times of availability) but also to allow sufficient room for manoeuvre (e.g. self-planned times for undisturbed work). The fear of missing something online is more likely to be associated with private media use (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). However, since social networks and communities have now also found their way into companies, and because it is often possible to use digital media for private purposes at work, the consequences of a high level of fear of missing out, as described in the study, cannot be neglected by companies either.
Digital media, especially social networks, communities and online/smartphone games, address basic human needs and deeply rooted reward mechanisms. What is a good business model for the providers of such media can become a problem for the individual user - especially if he or she has little self-control to resist temptation. It would be desirable to make information and communication technologies less invasive so that they offer fewer incentives to interact with the technology beyond what is necessary and useful. However, it is illusory that IT companies voluntarily forego the chances of retaining users (and obtaining data about them). Therefore, the development of technologies (especially apps) that support media users in regulating their media use themselves seems to be more appropriate. Some of the apps currently on the market that offer this function have already been integrated into media literacy training.
Within the bounds of our possibilities, we have made our findings available to a larger population group. For this purpose, (local) media (Nürnberger Zeitung, SWR2) were involved. In addition, we developed a training version with which the online exercises (without presence part) can be carried out, which enables a larger target group to access the training.
