The Science of Cell Phone Use: Its Past, Present, and Future

Cell phones are becoming the most ubiquitous technology. Researchers in various other disciplines in behavioral sciences have been extensively examining how people use cell phones and what influences cell phone use have on people’s lives for more than 20 years. This review paper provides an overall picture of the science of cell phone use by sketching the past, present, and future of this emerged field of study. After a short introduction, it presents an overview of the literature search methods used in this study and a brief history of the science of cell phone use, provides a detailed review of five major areas and six specific topics of the field, and ends with an outline of future directions of research. DOI: 10.4018/ijcbpl.2013010102 8 International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, 3(1), 7-18, January-March 2013 Copyright © 2013, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. METHOD Literature Search Strategies We used multiple strategies to search the existing literature. These strategies included database search, dialog search with librarians, manual search of references of identified articles, and consultation with identified experts. In particular, 19 databases were searched, including PsycINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Pubget, Scopus, Applied Science & Technology, Communication, Computers & Applied Sciences Complete, Education Full Text, Education Research Complete, Educational Administration Abstracts, ERIC, Film & Television Literature Index, Health Source Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Humanities Full Text, Humanities International Complete, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Social Sciences Abstracts.