Title: Smartphone usage of university students and academic performance: an empirical analysis

Authors: Wajeeha Aslam; Chai Lee Goi; Imtiaz Arif

Addresses: Business Administration Department, IQRA University, Karachi, Pakistan ' Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business, Curtin University, Sarawak, Malaysia ' IQRA University, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract: Although a lot of research has been done on smartphone use among students, the question is whether the smartphone really helps and supports the education system or distracts university students, especially their academic performance. Therefore, this study examined the effects of smartphone use by university students and their academic performance. A total of 300 usable data were analysed using PLS-SEM. The results revealed that relative advantage, smartphone self-efficacy, and interaction competency significantly impact the intention to use a smartphone for academic purposes. Also, interaction competency positively influences smartphone self-efficacy. Results also revealed that smartphone self-efficacy and behavioural intention to use smartphone positively affect students' academic performance. This study provides information to education officials, policymakers, faculty, and university management on smartphone use behaviour among students and its impact on their academic performance. This study also provides ideas to mobile phone manufacturers and app developers in designing better learning tools or applications.

Keywords: academic performance; relative advantage; self-efficacy; interaction competency; smartphone.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2022.123818

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2022 Vol.20 No.4, pp.440 - 461

Received: 10 Oct 2019
Accepted: 31 Oct 2020
Published online: 04 Jul 2022 *

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