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Michael Livingston, Psychology


This study investigated the relationship between texting and attention. Specifically, the ability to comprehend visual cues as well as verbal cues. This was measured through a set of questions based on three video clips the participants were asked to watch and then answer comprehension questions at the end of each video. This study utilized both a control group and an experimental group. Participants in the experimental group were asked to have a texting conversation with the researcher while also watching the videos and those in the control group were just asked to watch the videos. Both groups were asked to answer the same set of questions at the same designated time during the experiment. Participants included undergraduate students (n=20) from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Findings include significant results between texting and visual comprehension, texting and audio comprehension, and texting and total comprehension.