Do University Students Cyberloaf with Their Smartphones in Class? A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Aim: Nowadays, students' smartphone use during their lessons for non-class-related purposes has become an issue that educators have trouble controlling. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of cyberloafing that university students perform during lessons through their smartphones.Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 892 students studying in health-related undergraduate programs at two-state and two foundation universities. The data was collected through a face-to-face survey using a question form and the Smartphone Cyberloafing Scale in Classes (SPCSC) adapted to Turkish by Polat (2018).Results: The smartphone cyberloafing level of university students participating in the research has been determined to be low (2,33±1,11). The smartphone cyberloafing levels during lessons were significantly higher for male students participating in the study compared to female students; for students aged 21 and over compared to students aged 20 and under; for students in the Marmara region compared to students in the Mediterranean region; and for students studying in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics compared to students studying in the Department of Nursing (p<0.05).Conclusion: The frequency of smartphone cyberloafing behavior in class is affected by gender, age, geographical region, and the department of the students. This study provides educators with basic knowledge to guide planning for effective teaching and learning settings.