The Methods Lab is excited to share a new publication in the Journal of Quantitative Description: Digital Media, authored by data scientist Roland Toth along with researchers Douglas Parry, and Martin Emmer from the Weizenbaum institute. This paper, titled From Screen Time to Daily Rhythms: A Mixed Methods Study of Smartphone Use Among German Adults, explores how much, when, how, and under which circumstances Germans use their smartphones throughout the day.
The study presents a detailed analysis of smartphone usage characteristics, showing engagement in aggregate as well as how it varies throughout the day, and associations with the user’s socio-demographic characteristics. To do so, the authors used a mix of the Mobile Experience Sampling Method (MESM), Android event logs, and iOS data donations. They reveal distinct temporal patterns that are beneficial for understanding the broader contexts, motivations, and situational factors shaping different types of mobile interactions. It also outlines practical implications for researchers employing longitudinal and real-time measurement methods in interdisciplinary and social science research. This comprehensive analysis provides a strong basis for further exploration of the psychological, social, and behavioral dimensions of smartphone use.