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Abstract
This study investigates the difference between the perception of cell phone usage and actual cell phone usage among teenagers in the ninth and twelfth grade levels. Existing literature focuses largely on the effect of screen usage on different aspects of health, including mental health and developmental changes in children. However, the relationship between the perception of screen time and actual screen time use has not been extensively studied. In this study, 111 freshmen and seniors at the Woodbridge Academy Magnet School in Woodbridge, New Jersey completed two online surveys. The first asked for their estimation of daily screen time over the past ten days; the second instructed subjects to check their iPhones for their actual daily screen time average over the previous ten days. The difference between perception and actual use of cell phones was quantified using a 2-tailed matched-pairs t-test for means. Using an alpha level of ɑ = 0.05, the p-value calculated was 0.00001326345565, suggesting statistically significant results. The null hypothesis was rejected and in this sample there was a difference in a subject’s perception of screen time usage and their actual screen time usage. This study brings into light the possible inaccuracies with public surveys that ask for self-reported data, especially health studies. Cognitive bias in teenagers can be studied further to see the effect it has on other aspects of teenagers’ lives beyond screen time usage. Furthermore, this information can be used to create applications and other technologies that can assist teenagers struggling with mental health and a lack of self-control in their daily lives. Although these results are significant, studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse subject statistics should be conducted to observe if results can be replicated.
Publication Date
2026
Subject Major(s)
Psychology
Keywords
psychology, cognitive bias, screen time, cell phone
Disciplines
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Other Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychological Phenomena and Processes
Current Academic Year
Freshman
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Jennifer Frank
Rights
© The Author(s)
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons