Put down your smartphone – unless you integrate it into the conversation! An experimental investigation of using smartphones during face to face communication

Abstract

In times of permanent connectedness, smartphones are used in almost any situation, even during face to face (f2f) communications. Observational studies have shown that smartphone users can either phub their interaction partners or integrate the device into the ongoing co-present conversation. However, research in this field did not sufficiently distinguish between these types of use. Referring to the expectancy violations theory, this experiment (N = 402) investigated the effects of smartphone use more differentiated by manipulating the type of use on four levels (proactive, reactive, integrative, no use). Results indicated that interrupting a conversation proactively and reactively decreased the perceived attentiveness and politeness of the interaction partner as well as the conversational quality. In contrast, an integrative type of use did neither harm nor improve conversation outcomes and seemed to be in line with communicative expectations. Contrary to expectations, individuals’ own phubbing behavior did not influence how they evaluated the smartphone use of their interaction partner.