Analyzing the Impact of Cell Phones on Student Achievement

This report critically examines the impact of cell phone usage on secondary student achievement, exploring both positive and negative effects. The research employs a thematic analysis of existing literature, drawing from sources like MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Negative impacts include increased cheating, distractions in class, cyberbullying, disrespect towards teachers, and privacy invasions. Conversely, positive impacts encompass facilitating emergency contacts, enhancing student safety, supporting collaborative learning, improving access to information, aiding memory, and promoting better organization. The report concludes that while cell phones offer numerous benefits, their misuse can significantly hinder academic performance. The research also acknowledges limitations and suggests implications for future studies.

Running head: IMPACT OF CELL PHONE ON THEIR USAGE BY STUDENTS.
IMPACT ON USAGE OF CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL AND ITS EFFECT ON
SECONDARY STUDENT ACHIVEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
The following research project critically examine how the presence of Mobile Phone in
school impact on secondary students. With rapid increase in technology smartphone usage
has also got hiked in today atmosphere. The project includes the positive and negative effect
of using mobile phone by the students of higher secondary education. Related to the
background studies done in this areas various finding was noted regarding mobile phone
usage by the students. Using mobile phone is beneficial for student in learning process
however, it does cause disturbance. Lastly, from the above discussion it was concluded that
mobile phone has both pros and cons and it depend on the individual, how efficiently and
fruitfully make use of it.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Background............................................................................................................................4
Statement of research questions.............................................................................................4
Research questions.................................................................................................................4
Objectives...............................................................................................................................5
Literature search.........................................................................................................................5
Methodology..........................................................................................................................5
Search strategy...................................................................................................................6
Source of analysis..............................................................................................................6
Type and Result of the analysis.........................................................................................6
Finding.......................................................................................................................................7
Thematic synthesis of literature review.................................................................................7
Negative effect of using mobile phones:............................................................................7
Cheating- an unethical practice by students.......................................................................7
Distractions caused to students using phones....................................................................7
Cyberbullying a harmful aspect for students.....................................................................8
Disrespect to teachers is rising with mobile usage.............................................................8
Texting is being common in today’s generation................................................................8
Theft or loss of phone leads to stress.................................................................................9
Breakage of phone caused by accidents.............................................................................9
Invasion of privacy by using mobile................................................................................10

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Antisocial behavior of students hiked by using mobile...................................................10
Cell phone radiation causes cancer..................................................................................10
Positive effect of using mobile phone..............................................................................11
Emergency contacts are possible with mobiles................................................................11
Security and safety of student increases by using phone.................................................11
Mobiles supports collaborative learning..........................................................................11
Improves access to information by using mobiles...........................................................11
Cell phone can be used to aid memory............................................................................12
Mobile phone can be used as a participation tool............................................................12
Cell phone supports better organization and time scheduling for students......................12
Discussion................................................................................................................................13
Summary of finding.............................................................................................................13
Limitation of the research........................................................................................................14
Implication of the research.......................................................................................................14
Conclusion................................................................................................................................14
Reference..................................................................................................................................16

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Introduction
The aim of the project is to critically analyse the impact of mobile phone among the
students of high education, and how it is impacting on their daily activity. The research
project has used the thematic analysis for literature review using online database source. The
project further explained the positive as well as negative effect of cell phone on students and
its comparative analysis is done to come in conclusion.
Background
The issue of usage of mobile phones or cell phones in schools by students has been a
topic of debate for quite some time. According to the parents who supports the use of cell
phones, the devices helps to address their safety and security concerns and allows them to
communicate with their children. Teachers and school administrators on the other hand who
are opposed to the usage of cell phones in schools points out that the cell phones can be
disruptive to the class and can also be used for unethical purposes such as cheating or taking
unsolicited pictures. Several studies have also shown that using cell phones can distract the
students and take away their attention from the lessons delivered in the class as they get
engrossed with the devices, playing mobile games or massaging each other. However,
supporters for the usage of cell phones still suggests that using cell phones can have positive
outcomes as well, which can be systematically harnessed to increase the efficiency of
delivering knowledge and help the students with their studies. For the purpose of the study, a
systematic review of literature would be performed to explore the negative and positive
influences of using cell phones in schools.

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Statement of research problem
The problem of this project was to determine the connection between positive and
negative effect of mobile phone on the studies of students as both effects are debatable.
Research questions
 How does the use of cell phone in schools or any institution can have positive impact
on the student way of learning?
 How does the usage of smartphone can harm the learning process of student and what
result will it cause in schools?
 Among positive and negative effort, which has the greater impact on usage of cell
phone in schools?
 What are the remedial measure taken to contradict the issue of using cell phone in
schools?
Objectives
The principal aim of the study is to critically evaluate the effect of presence of using
smartphone by the students in schools and institution and their impact in the process of
learning and in achievements of secondary students.
The objective of the following research topic are as follows:
 To evaluate the positive impact of using smartphone by students going to schools
 To critically examine the negative outcome of using smartphone in schools by the
students
 To investigate both good and harm of the smartphone being used by the students in
schools
 To give some remedial measure to contradict the problem stated.

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Key words: cell phones, positive effect, negative effect, disturbance, mode of learning,
higher secondary school, students.
Literature search
Methodology
This study is based on systematic review that include four multidisciplinary reviews that
assessed the consequences of mobile phone use on students of higher secondary education.
The study has used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis
(PRISMA).
Search strategy
A comprehensive strategy for searching was done to obtain all required and relevant
studies by using the common terms addressing the objective of the research (positive “effect
of mobile phone on students’’, “negative effect of mobile phone on students”, “Impact on
school environment of using cell phone”. The search has included the data from 2013 to till
date. The key terms are used to map as heading under thematic analysis of literature review.
Source of analysis
The common literature search strategy used to determine the impact of cell phone in
schools are composed of five major databases source; MEDLINE, PubMed, Google scholar,
Cochrane library and Psyc-INFO. The search was restricted to students, publication date from
1st January, 2013 till date and publication language considered includes English. Out of 50
records searched, 25 were assessed thoroughly and the finding based on this was used to
synthesize thematic finding of the research.

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Type and Result of the analysis
The search showed many article in which many of them did not give exact data
regarding the topic. 10 reviews were followed to know negative and positive effect of mobile
phone used by the students. 2-4 articles from Google search has given result about the
comparison of both effects. On the basis of the search, thematic analysis of literature has been
highlighted in this project.
Finding
Thematic synthesis of literature review
The aim of the project is to determine the impact of cell phone on the students
involved in higher secondary education. Therefore, focus has been made to know the positive
and negative effect of using cell phone. From a systematic review of literature, several
effects/impacts of using cell phones in classroom by students have been identified, which
includes both positive and negative effects.
Negative effect of using mobile phones:
Cheating- an unethical practice by students.
Studied by Ugur and Koc, (2015) suggested that the usage of cell phones in
classrooms increased the rates of cheating and utilization of unfair means by the students
during the exams. Smetanink, (2014) suggested that students often revert to the usage of cell
phones discretely during the exams to seek unethical assistance from outside to score well.
Moreover, the accessibility to online resources can also be used by the students to cheat
during the exams. Cell phones can also facilitate the habit of cheating among students, as the
devices are easily concealable, which allows them to take pictures of question papers and
disclosing them to others.

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Distractions caused to students using phones.
Bjornsen and archer (2014) pointed out that cell phones can be a source of distraction
for the students as they can take away their focus from the classroom activities and sessions
and instead engage them in activities such as playing mobile games, browsing the internet or
social media or ‘chatting’ with friends during class. Due to this, the students often lose track
of the lecture sessions and thus unable to understand or utilize the knowledge shared by the
teachers. Cell phones can also make the students unmindful in the class and therefore can
adversely affect their academic performance.
Cyberbullying a harmful aspect for students
Bauman, Toomey and walker (2013) suggested that one real threat of using cell
phones by students can place them at risk of cyberbullying. Incidents of cyberbullying have
become increasingly prevalent, especially in countries where the usage of cell phones in
schools is high. Cell phones can be used to distribute and post inappropriate pictures or posts
about students, which can lead to incidents of bullying, including cyberbullying.
Additionally, the incidence of cyberbullying can also be contributed by the ease with which
information can be shared using cell phones on the internet and social media platforms. These
incidents can have significant adverse effects on the mind of the students being bullied and
can hamper their academic performance.
Disrespect to teachers is rising with mobile usage
Unrestricted usage of cell phones during classes can be disrespectful for the teachers
as it can break the flow of the lecture being delivered and thus distract the teachers as well.
Dashestani (2013) suggested that when the cell phones of students start to ring in the
classroom during a lecture or a teaching session, it can undermine the time and effort given
by the teacher to teach the students and therefore is disrespectful to them. Also, it can be rude

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to use cell phones during the recess periods and breaks, instead of interacting with other
students and therefore can adversely affect the development of social skills.
Texting is being common in today’s generation
According to Mokhtari, Delello and Reichard (2015), students often spend a
significant amount of time texting each other on cell phones. This takes away valuable time
and their focus from the classes and therefore hampers their academic performance. Another
variation of texting is called ‘sexting’ in which inappropriate and indecent texts and pictures
are shared between students using cell phones. This can lead to the intrusion of privacy of
other students and can cause distraction to the students as well as others around them.
Thomas and Bolton, (2013) further suggested that sexting can lead to harassment of the
students, increasing incidences of bullying, depression and stress among the students, all of
which can adversely affect their academic performance.
Theft or loss of phone leads to stress
Carrying cell phones to school also can increase the risks of the phones being stolen
or lost. Incidents of cell phones being stolen or lost can not only be distracting for the
students and others around them, it can also be a source of psychological and emotional
stress, especially since the students tend to be very fond of the devices. Losing cell phones
can also instil in them a sense of fear of being scolded by parents. Dastan and Gurler (2016)
further suggested that incidents of theft of cell phones can also adversely affect the reputation
of the schools.
Breakage of phone caused by accidents
According to Eargle (2015) carrying cell phones in schools can also increase the risks
of accidental damages and breakage of the device. This can also lead to the students being
distracted from their studies, thereby hampering their academic performance. Incidents of cell

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phone breaking can also be a financial encumbrance for the student and their families which
can also be a source of stress and distraction. It can be pointed here that incidents of cell
phones breaking can also create a hazardous environment for the students as it can increase
risks of shock and injury from the broken electronic parts.
Invasion of privacy by using mobile
Park and Jang (2014) suggested that the rampant use of cell phones in several schools
across Australia have resulted in the invasion of privacy for the students. Since the cell
phones are tiny in size and can be concealed easily, it can be used to take inappropriate
pictures of the students which can result in the invasion of their privacy. Moreover, the
connectivity of most cell phones to the internet can lead to those pictures being freely
uploaded and shared over the internet, which can attract sexual offenders and thus put the
safety of the children at risk.
Antisocial behaviour of students hiked by using mobile
Den Hamer and Keijer (2014) suggested that using cell phones by students can
increase the propensity of antisocial behavior among them. The easy accessibility of the
internet from these mobile devices, while at school can cause the students to behave
erratically and be influenced by negative characters more easily. Craun, Bourke and Coulson
(2015), pointed out that children having access to internet can interact with potentially
criminal personalities on the internet, who can brainwash them to adopt antisocial behaviour.
According to Lemieux, Bricknell and Prenzler (2015), several incidents of school shootouts
in the United States and Australia have occurred when young impressionable children are
brainwashed by criminal organisations to take part in violent crimes.

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Cell phone radiation causes cancer
Radiation from cell phones is another negative aspect of the negative impact of cell
phones on the student. Different studies have shown that the radiation produced from the cell
phones can interfere with the sleep patterns and brain development and therefore can have
significant adverse impact on the academic performance of the student on the long term.
According to the studies, the radiations emitted from cell phones can also be carcinogenic
and can increase risks of several diseases later in life.
Positive effect of using mobile phone
Emergency contacts are possible with mobiles
Katz (2017) suggested that a large number of parents believe that the cell phones
provide them with a mode for emergency contact with their children during an emergency.
This can include emergencies at home or school in which the parents or the children can be
worried about each other, and the presence of a cell phone can allow them to communicate
with each other easily.
Security and safety of student increases by using phone
From the study by Le et al. (2015) It is said that cell phone has been a mode for easy
contact, it is also regarded as mean of safety and security of students. In situation of illness or
danger, students have the option to contact their near one through cell phone. It is beneficial
for them to carry the cell phone with them. In any circumstance say, if student feels unsafe
while coming home and sense some danger or they have undergone any accident or injury,
they can contact their parent immediately. Thus, it can be solution for any unforeseen
emergency.