Screen time and its association to memory retention and concentration among adolescent high school students
Edward Lindon Q. Figarido
Abstract
This study aims to determine the presence or absence of a correlation between screen time with memory retention and concentration. A quantitative quasi-experimental research design was utilized to assess the students’ memory retention and concentration. Fifty-three students were selected using purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to evaluate the amount of screen time, along with performance tasks such as the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test to measure memory and the Stroop Test to measure concentration. The participants were found to spend 4.5 times longer on screen time than the recommended amount by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The results showed a negative correlation between the use of smartphones and the scores of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Stroop Test, indicating a negative correlation between screen time to memory retention and concentration. The results further showed that the grade level and gender have no statistical significance to memory retention and concentration. This study confirms that as the smartphone use increases, memory retention and concentration decreases.
Keywords
smartphone use, cognitive function, attention span, cognitive performance, adolescent health
Author information & Contribution
Edward Lindon Q. Figarido. Bachelor of Science in Psychology student, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave, Brgy Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Email: figaridolindon@gmail.com
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Declaration
The author declares the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing this paper. In particular, the author used Gemini to aid in searching appropriate literature, summarizing key points, and language editing.
Notes
This paper has been presented in the 3rd International Student Research Congress (ISRC) 2026.
Acknowledgement
The completion of this research would not have been possible without the presence, support, and coordination of various groups and organizations. The researcher sincerely thanks the Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow for permitting the distribution of tests toward its high school population. Furthermore, the researcher wishes to express his sincerest gratitude to all individuals who have participated, assisted, or supported the process of this research. Lastly, the research expresses his profound gratitude and appreciation to the Almighty God, for His guidance, provision, strength, and wisdom, throughout the process of this paper.
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Cite this article:
Figarido, E.L.Q. (2026). Screen time and its association to memory retention and concentration among adolescent high school students. The Research Probe, 6(1), 45-69. https://doi.org/10.53378/trp.220
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
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