Measurement Method Options to Investigate Digital Screen Technology Use by Children and Adolescents: A Narrative...

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Research Methodology

Background:

• The impact of digital screen technology on children is a significant area of debate.
• Current research on children's screen time is limited by inaccurate self- or proxy-report measures.
• There is a need for robust evidence to inform practical guidance for families and professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assist researchers in choosing appropriate measurement methods for digital screen use in children.
• To provide a framework for understanding the complexities of child-technology interaction in research.
• To improve the quality and detail of evidence regarding children's screen time.

Main Methods:

• The paper reviews various methods for measuring digital screen technology use in children and adolescents.
• Methods discussed include questionnaires, diaries, direct observation, cameras, audio recorders, and digital logging techniques.
• A child-technology interaction model is used to organize measurement considerations.

Main Results:

• Each method's advantages, disadvantages, typical constructs measured, and examples of use are detailed.
• The paper highlights the challenges associated with accurately measuring contemporary screen use.
• A checklist and worked examples are provided to aid researchers in method selection.

Conclusions:

• Selecting the right measurement tools is critical for obtaining robust and detailed evidence on children's screen time.
• This paper equips researchers with the knowledge to choose optimal methods or combinations of methods for their studies.
• Improved measurement will lead to more trustworthy guidance on digital screen use for children.