How Smartphones Effect Relationships

ContentsIntroduction2Background Focus & Purpose2Problem Statement/Research Question2Hypothesis2Methods/Procedure2Discussion2Results2

IntroductionDevelopments in technology have enabled billions of people to stay connected through smartphones, tablets and laptops. Smartphones provide the perfect connectedness with the online and the offline self. With the integration of social networking websites along with applications that allow free calls and sms, it is not only easier but also feasible for people to maintain contact over the air and online. According to Ian Kerners recently published article in BBC News, research suggests that the increasing usage of smartphones is having a negative impact on the quality of relationships. According to his article, Technology allows us to be constantly connected to the world, but it can also make us even more disconnected from each other. This springs from the continuous and contagious use of smartphone for not only checking email or sending texts but also reading the news, surfing online, using social media etc. The focus of this research are those who are smartphone users.The purpose of this research is to understand the behavioral change in relationships with increasing smartphone density. Research Question The major assumption taken in to account here is that smartphone acts as a stimulant that causes changes in behaviors which lead to relationships that are more invested and engaging. HypothesisIncreasing smartphone usage leads to increasing interactivity which makes relationships more vested on-line than offline.

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