A social media and digital wellness research project currently underway at Parker Junior High collects cell phone usage data to help researchers understand how students interact with technology.
Researchers from the University of Chicago, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are conducting The Social Technology & Adolescent Research Study (STARS) at Parker. Researchers designed STARS to gather data focused on adolescent social media use, association with well-being and academic outcomes and to test interventions that promote healthier digital habits. The six-week study involves students in grades six, seven and eight.
A letter sent to parents explained that applications downloaded on students’ phones would record screen time data and share it with researchers. The letter also explained that the study would be conducted at school and that students would be asked to complete short surveys sent via text message. Students and parents were informed that they could earn up to $200 in gift cards for participating in the study if they completed all the steps outlined by researchers.
The letter offered parents an opt-out option if they didn’t want their student to participate.
An app called the STARS Dashboard tracks the time students spend on different mobile applications, and an app called Unpluq allows students to block their access to other apps on their phone. Parents can monitor their students’ activity through the STARS app. Some students will be asked to set limits on the use of some sites. Students are instructed to leave both apps on their phones for the duration of the study, but parents and students can opt-out at any time.
According to Superintendent Dana Smith, who has been meeting with researchers to ensure everything is going as planned, the researchers chose the “opt out” method to increase participation. This method has raised questions among parents, who think they should have been asked whether their child had permission to participate in the study.
University of Chicago Director of Public Affairs Gerald McSwiggan responded to questions about the study, with the statement that “research conducted by University of Chicago investigators involving human subjects follows the ethical principles of the Belmont Report and is subject to oversight by the university’s institutional review board.”
The STARS study received approval from the institutional review boards of multiple universities because students’ personal data is not being collected. The time they spend using various apps on their phones is recorded and shared with researchers without any connection to the students’ names. Gift cards are frequently the chosen method for disbursing research compensation because collecting bank account numbers is an additional complicated step that involves sensitive personal data, and cash is nearly impossible for universities to track.
Smith stated that District 161 has a history of supporting research with the University of Chicago, and he is working to verify and ensure there are “no surprises” regarding data collection. He affirmed that the university representatives have stated they are following all applicable research guidelines.
“I share the typical concerns about the appropriate use of student data, especially in today’s world,” Smith said. “On our end, thinking about this research study and thinking about our work with it, it’s verifying all the pieces that we approved at the board of education level, and really addressing the parents’ concerns.”
The Flossmoor District 161 Board of Education heard information about the study and voted to approve it in January.
Smith said that ideally, STARS results will be shared with parents and school officials to learn more about how students are using technology. The district plans to share more information with the community, including answers to frequently asked questions about the research study, in the coming days.
