Cellular Telephone Use
Behavior
Richard A. Hudiburg and
Undergraduate Research Team
University of North Alabama
Cell-Phone Users Need to Hang
Up and Drive
• Oct 04, 2000 – Seattle Press Online
• To the Editor:
• A few months ago, after a near head-on collision with a distracted
cell-phone driver who drifted into my lane, I posted a sign saying,
"Hang up and drive!" on the front and rear of my van. I've been
studiously noting the reaction in traffic to the signs, and have
identified four particular categories of individuals who frequently give
me a smile and "thumbs up." They are: school bus drivers, highway
workers, pedestrians and "driver safety" instructors.
• The real surprise, though, has been the response from SUV owners,
particularly on the east side. After driving up really close behind me,
presumably to better read the sign, they often pull alongside and
offer a salute which tells me "You're number one!" Go figure...
• David Arntuffus
Purpose of Study
• The current study is an update of the cell phone study of
Hudiburg, Jefcoat, & Alred (2002) present at the 79th
annual meeting of AAS. That study was based on data
collected in 2001.
• There have been some changes in cell phone users. In
1985 there were 340,000 users, in 2001 129 million
users, and in 2006 an estimated 200 million users in the
United States. Worldwide the estimate is over 2 billion
uers.
• Increase variety of cell phone contracts, including:
rollover minutes, free on network calls and family plans.
• Increase number of cell phone features: cameras,
internet, and MP3 players.
• Possible change is interpersonal behavior related to cell
phone use behavior.
• Academic issues are a concern with cell phones in the
classroom (disturbances, tests).
Design of Study
• A questionnaire was developed with assistance of
undergraduate Research Team. The questionnaire was
available on-line to anonymous cell phone users:
http://www2.una.edu/psychology/onlinestudy.htm
• Questionnaire sought background information of cell phone
users, cell phone features questions, cell phone use activity,
cell phone use behaviors, situations of cell phone use, moods
related to cell phone use, cell phone use attitudes, and other
cell phone use behaviors. Psychological scales included that
measured self-esteem, self-monitoring, need for affiliation, and
personality dimensions (the big five).
• Only students enrolled at University of North Alabama were
participants.
• Data presented are preliminary and doesn’t include the
analysis of the psychological scales.
Preliminary Results
• N = 117 Students (2 week data capture)
• Age M = 23.17 years (SD=5.92)
• Male 17.2% Female 82.1%
• Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate
• 20.5%
17.1%
23.1% 26.5% 11.1%
• International Student: Yes 3.4% No 94.9%
Cell Phone Features
• How old were you when you got your first cell phone? M = 18.03
years (4.77)
• Do your parents have a cell phone? Yes 91.5% No 7.7%
• Type of cell phone plan:
prepaid 2.6% individual calling plan 37.6%
shared plan 58.1%
• Extras:
• free weekends/nights 93.2% free on network calls 75.2%
• unlimited text messages 23.9% rollover minutes 48.7%
• Coverage: local regional national international
2.6%
5.1%
86.3%
4.3%
• Cell phone features: text messaging 87.2% MP3 8.5%
Internet 47.9% camera 53.8% entertainment 42.7 %
• Do you have a special “download” cell phone ring?
Yes 53.8% No 44.4%
Cell Phone Use: costs and calls
• Do you have primary responsibility for paying your cell
phone bill? Yes 47.0% No 51.3%
• Average amount of monthly cell phone bill: $ 71.89
(SD=35.50)
• Have you recently changed plans due to excessive
charges? Yes 10.3% No 88.9%
• How many times in the last year have you exceeded or
gone over your “anytime” minutes? M = 1.37 (SD=3.54)
• How many calls do you make in an average day?
M = 7.46 (SD=6.40)
• How many calls do you receive in an average day?
M = 7.41 (SD=6.34)
Cell Phone Use Behavior
• Comparatively, do you use your cell phone more or less than your
friends?
a lot more more about the same less
a lot less
5.1%
7.7%
47.9%
23.9%
14.5%
• How do you rate your cell phone usage?
use heavily above average average below average barely use
10.3%
17.9%
45.3%
17.9%
7.7%
• Who do you call most often on your cell phone?
Parent 31.6% Friend 29.1%
Significant other (spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend) 35.0%
Child 0.9% Employer 2.6%
• Who calls you most often on your cell phone?
Parent 31.6% Friend 35.9%
Significant other (spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend) 27.4 %
Child
1.7% Employer 2.6%
Cell Phone Use Behavior
• Which of the following indicates why you use
your cell phone
• Safety precautions/emergency
82.9%
• Job necessity
17.1%
• Casual conversation
78.6%
• To keep up with certain people
65.0%
• Convenience
86.3%
• “Primary” telephone number
59.8%
• Certain people to keep up with me 47.9%
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Situations of Use (%)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do you allow others to use your cell
phone?
Do you turn off your cell phone when you
are out-of-area, so to avoid “roaming
charges”?
Do you turn off your cell phone when you
are out of “anytime minutes”?
Do you think that cell phone calls received
during “inopportune” times (i.e., movie
theater, classroom, meetings, church, etc.)
should be answered?
Do you make cell phone calls at any free
moment (i.e., like immediately after leaving
a class)?
Do you have scheduled breaks during your
day in order to talk on your cell phone?
Do you answer calls while you are driving a
car?
13.7
35.9
36.8
10.3
1.7
86.3
5.1
2.6
0.9
3.4
88.0
4.3
2.6
0.9
2.6
58.1
25.6
12.8
0.0
0.9
11.1
18.8
35.0
18.8
15.4
74.4
10.3
12.0
2.6
0.0
1.7
1.7
19.7
24.8
51.3
Once
in a
great
while
Sometimes
Fairly
often
Very
often
Practic
ally
never
©Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Situations of Use (%)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do you make calls while you are driving a
car?
Do you use the entertainment functions of
your cell phone?
Do you sometimes ring yourself on your cell
phone to appear to be “busy” on a cell
phone?
Do you stop an on going conversation to
answer your cell phone.
Do you “text message” during “inopportune”
times (i.e., movie theater, classroom,
meetings, church, etc.)?
Do you pretend to talk on the cell phone to
avoid people?
Do you get upset when your call is
unanswered and you have to leave a
message?
3.4
6.8
26.5
23.9
37.6
34.2
29.9
20.5
10.3
3.4
92.2
6.0
0.9
0.0
0.9
17.9
29.9
42.7
4.3
4.3
47.9
14.5
15.4
12.8
8.5
70.9
17.1
7.7
2.6
0.9
30.8
29.9
27.4
6.0
5.1
Practic
ally
never
Once
in a
great
while
Sometimes
Fairly
often
Very
often
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Mood of Use (%)
•
Rate the likelihood that you would
make a call on your cell phone during
these moods.
Practic
ally
never
Once
in a
great
while
Sometimes
Fairly
often
Very
often
6.8
6.0
29.1
25.6
31.6
•
Bored
•
Upset
7.7
12.0
29.1
29.1
21.4
•
Excited
1.7
3.4
19.7
29.9
44.4
•
Happy
2.6
9.4
35.9
29.1
21.4
•
Lonely
6.0
14.5
35.9
23.1
19.7
•
Afraid
15.4
12.0
26.5
22.2
21.4
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Mood of Use (%)
•
Rate the likelihood that you would
answer a call on your cell phone during
these moods.
Practic
ally
never
Once
in a
great
while
Sometimes
Fairly
often
Very
often
0.9
1.7
12.0
23.1
61.5
•
Bored
•
Upset
6.8
18.8
45.3
15.4
12.8
•
Excited
1.7
1.7
16.2
26.5
53.0
•
Happy
2.6
0.9
14.5
31.6
49.6
•
Lonely
1.7
2.6
20.5
31.6
42.7
•
Afraid
5.1
8.5
23.9
23.1
36.8
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Same time activities (%)
• Watching television
• Surf the Internet
• Use the computer for school
work
• While having a face-to-face
interaction with other people
• Listening to music
• While attending class
• Eating
17.9
12.0
35.9
20.5
12.8
17.1
11.1
27.4
24.8
18.8
20.5
17.1
29.9
16.2
15.4
36.8
33.3
21.4
4.3
3.4
22.2
14.5
33.3
15.4
13.7
80.3
12.0
4.3
0.9
1.7
19.7
24.8
33.3
15.4
6.0
Practic
ally
never
Once
in a
great
while
Sometimes
Fairly
often
Very
often
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Attitudes about Use (%)
Strongly
disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
agree
•
I believe that cell phone use may one day
be discovered to cause brain cancer.
18.8
27.4
31.6
18.8
0.0
•
I believe that I am safer with a cell phone.
0.0
3.4
5.4
47.0
31.6
•
I believe that use of a cell phone fulfills my
need to be in contact with people.
1.7
17.9
20.5
36.8
20.5
•
I believe that I function effectively as a
person with my cell phone.
3.4
4.3
23.1
50.4
16.2
•
I believe that cell phone accessories are
important.
16.2
30.8
32.5
12.0
5.1
•
I believe I would be “lost” without my cell
phone.
12.0
26.5
12.8
29.1
17.1
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Attitudes about Use (%)
•
•
•
•
•
•
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving interferes with driving.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving is more distracting than tuning a
car radio/CD player/MP3 player.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving is more distracting than eating or
drinking behind the wheel.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving increases the risk of an accident.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving using a handheld cell must be
banned.
I believe all types of talking on cell phone
while driving must be banned.
Strongly
disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
agree
5.1
12.8
25.6
38.5
14.5
11.1
26.5
17.1
30.8
11.1
12.0
39.3
9.7
23.1
3.4
0.9
4.3
23.1
53.8
15.4
14.5
35.0
28.2
15.4
4.3
34.2
41.9
13.7
6.0
1.7
Cell Phone Use Behavior: Attitudes about Use (%)
Seo & Torabi (2004) study N = 1185
•
•
•
•
•
•
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving interferes with driving.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving is more distracting than tuning a
car radio/CD player/MP3 player.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving is more distracting than eating or
drinking behind the wheel.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving increases the risk of an accident.
I believe talking on cell phone while
driving using a handheld cell must be
banned.
I believe all types of talking on cell phone
while driving must be banned.
Strongly
disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly
agree
2.0
10.0
20.0
53.0
15.0
4.0
26.0
21.0
34.0
14.0
6.0
39.0
23.0
22.0
10.0
1.0
6.0
18.0
53.0
21.0
20.0
37.0
27.0
11.0
5.0
39.0
39.0
15.0
3.0
3.0
Other Cell Phone Use Behavior (%)
Very
unlikely
• If you are sitting alone in a public 1.7
place how likely would you use
your cell phone?
• If you are sitting alone in a public
26.5
place how likely are you to use
your cell phone’s entertainment
functions to keep busy?
• When answering your cell phone 10.3
what is the likelihood you use
your THUMB?
• When dialing your cell phone
6.0
what is the likelihood you use
your THUMB?
• When text messaging what is the 12.8
likelihood you use your THUMB?
Fairly
unlikely
Somewhat
likely
Fairly
likely
Very
likely
11.1
29.9
29.1
25.6
12.0
8.2
17.1
13.7
6.0
6.8
8.5
65.8
5.1
3.4
7.7
75.2
3.4
3.4
3.4
73.5
Discussion
• Current results are similar to those found by Hudiburg et
al. (2002).
• Most common use of cell phone is for safety, causal
conversation, and convenience.
• More likely to make a cell phone call when bored, upset,
and excited.
• More likely to answer a cell phone call when bored,
excited, happy, lonely, and afraid.
• Most commonly surf the Internet while talking on cell
phone.
• Most agree that a cell phone makes one effective, fulfils
needs, and safer.
• Inconsistency between attitudes and behavior related to
cell phone use while driving a car.
• Slight decrease in the use of the thumb in answering cell
phone compared to 2001 (74% v. 86%).
Conclusions
• This study is ongoing and data collection will continue for another
month.
• Analysis of psychological variables when data collection is
completed should reveal some interesting relationships between
cell phone use behavior and self-esteem, self-monitoring, need for
affiliation, and personality dimensions (the big five).
• Undergraduate Research Team includes UNA Psychology
students: Mary Brasseale, Shawn Geron, Derek Green, Jennifer
Skowron, Jeannie Swann, Melonee Tubb, and Oscar White.
References
• Hudiburg, R., Jefcoat, G. & Alred, M. (2002). "Cellular telephone
use and the need for affiliation: a preliminary study." Alabama
Academy of Science, 79th annual meeting, University of West
Alabama, Livingston, AL. March, 2002.
• Seo, D. & Torabi, M. R. (2004). The Impact of In-Vehicle CellPhone Use on Accidents or Near accidents among Collage
Students. Journal of American College Health, 53, 101-107.
Cell Phone Use Behavior