A randomized trial of nearly 17,000 students found that collecting phones during class raised grades by 0.086 standard deviations, especially for lower-performing and first‑year students. After experiencing the ban, students became more supportive of phone restrictions and perceived greater benefits, with no significant harm to wellbeing or motivation.
— It suggests that trialing restrictive digital policies can generate user buy‑in, informing how schools and governments design and legitimize technology rules.
Tyler Cowen
2025.09.20
72% relevant
This article explicitly challenges evidence that collecting phones boosts grades and support by arguing the unseen costs—especially for top performers and AI learning—aren’t being measured; Tyler Cowen’s line that 'a school without smartphones probably cannot teach its students AI' directly contests the policy implications of the RCT.
Tyler Cowen
2025.09.12
100% relevant
The Sungu–Choudhury–Bjerre‑Nielsen RCT showing higher grades and increased student receptivity to in‑class phone bans.
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