The Effect of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Concentration During Lecture Hours

Abstract

This qualitative research examines the impact of cell phone use on students' concentration during lectures at STIE Ganesha, Indonesia. Through participatory observation method with structured observation sheet, the researcher documented the frequency, duration, and purpose of cell phone use among active users. Key findings revealed: (1) High Prevalence: 85% of college students were observed using their cell phones during lectures, with 65% primarily for non-academic activities (social media, chat, games); (2) Performance Correlation: Cell phone users >1 hour per session showed significant decreases in academic performance and class participation; (3) Attention Costs: Prolonged non-academic use (1-2 hours) correlated with impaired concentration and a 60% decrease in concept encoding efficiency; (4) Academic Utility: Although 20% used their cell phones for academic tasks (reference search, digital note-taking), these benefits were impacted by distraction effects. This study proves that uncontrolled cell phone use-especially for non-academic purposes-fundamentally impairs learning effectiveness. Recommendations include implementing institution-based device use policies, training lecturers in interactive pedagogy, and structured lecture segments with “tech-active” activities to balance digital integration