Research Projects

This study is grounded in cognitive load theory and dual-process models of attention. The rationale stems from robust evidence linking high-frequency media multitasking to impairments in working memory (WM), long-term memory (LTM), sustained attention, and interference control (Ophir, Nass, & Wagner, 2009; Cain & Mitroff, 2011; Ralph et al., 2015; Uncapher & Wagner, 2018). It also addresses India-specific needs: with high smartphone penetration and rising academic stress, this work is essential for identifying feasible interventions such as digital detox.• H1 (Baseline Multitasking Effects): At pre-test, HM participants will exhibit higher SART errors, lower Flanker accuracy, greater cortisol, and lower DFS scores than LM participants. • H2 (Detox Efficacy): From pre- to post-test, DETOX participants will show larger improvements (decreased errors/increased accuracy, lower cortisol, increased DFS, and decreased PSS-10) than CONTROL participants. • H3 (Interaction of Multitasking Level × Intervention): HM-DETOX will show disproportionately greater gains than HM-CONTROL and LM-DETOX. Detailed Procedures Phase 1: Pre-Test (Week 1) 1. Participant Arrival & Consent o Verify informed consent and inclusion criteria (age 18–22; smartphone user). 2. Baseline Questionnaires (30 min) o Demographics, MMI, PSS-10, DFS, Smartphone Addiction Scale-SV. 3. Saliva Collection (10 min) o Fasting sample between 9:00–10:00 AM using Salivette® tubes; stored at –20 °C. 4. Cognitive Testing (40 min total) o SART (15 min): Respond to digits 1–9, withhold response to “3.” o Eriksen Flanker (20 min): Identify central arrow direction under congruent/incongruent conditions; 5 min practice precedes test. o Environment: Individual cubicles, no extraneous stimuli, proctored by research assistant, countdown clocks visible. Phase 2: Intervention (Week 2) • DETOX Group Protocol: 1. App Blocking: Install Freedom app; block social media/gaming during prescribed study windows (9:00–12:00, 14:00–17:00, 19:00–21:00). 2. Structured Study: Three daily 90-minute blocks using Pomodoro (25 min focus/5 min break). 3. Mindfulness: Guided 10 min meditation audio each evening. 4. Adherence Monitoring: Daily WhatsApp check-in questionnaire. • CONTROL Group: o Maintain usual smartphone habits; complete daily log of study hours (no restrictions). Phase 3: Post-Test (Week 3) • Repeat all Pre-Test procedures in identical order and environment. • Additional Qualitative Interviews (20 min) for DETOX participants to capture subjective experiences and adherence challenges. This proposed research addresses a critical gap at the intersection of digital behavior, cognitive functioning, and academic readiness—specifically within the Indian higher education context. With nearly universal smartphone ownership among college students (ASER, 2023) and an intensifying exam-centric academic culture, the rising trend of habitual media multitasking poses a direct threat to sustained attention, working memory, and stress regulation. However, not many studies have investigated this phenomenon under ecologically valid, exam-like conditions or explored scalable solutions that could be applied in real academic environments. This project introduces both of these elements and thus offers substantial innovation over prior research.