Neurotypical and Neurodivergent (Dis)engagements: Practices of Smartphone Use in Face-to-Face Interactions

Application summary

This multidisciplinary project will address a significant gap in existing research on smartphone use and its impact on social interactions—specifically, the lack of research involving neurodivergent participants. The widespread adoption of smartphones has raised concerns about the negative effects of pervasive device use on the quality of face-to-face interactions. Recent studies have also identified correlations between extensive smartphone use and symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. However, most of this research relies on methodologies that fail to consider the interactional context of smartphone use, leading to problematic generalizations about people’s digital competencies and flawed recommendations. Moreover, previous studies have been based almost exclusively on neurotypical participants, leaving a gap in understanding the smartphone use patterns of neurodivergent individuals. To overcome these issues, the proposed project will draw on multimodal interaction analysis of video-recorded naturally occurring interactions and include both neurotypical and neurodivergent participants. The primary objective is to examine how individuals with and without ADHD manage smartphone-related disengagements during face-to-face interactions and navigate the social and moral implications of device use. By respecifying ADHD symptoms as observable interactional phenomena, this study will offer a framework for studying interactions involving neurodivergent participants, thus expanding the limited literature on atypical interactions.