University-based study seeks interviewees for research on mobile phone use and work/life balance
We are still currently recruiting participants for a research study on how mobile phones affect our working and home lives. We are offering participants $100 in gift cards, in appreciation of the participation.
To Participate
Fill out the form below and we will assign you a code number to protect your identity. From there, the research team will be in touch with you.
Interested? Sign up!
Contact us. Your identity will remain anonymous.
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About the study
The purpose of the study is to create some actionable policy recommendations for businesses, governments and even for individuals. What limits should businesses put on mobile phone use for work? How can individuals negotiate the work/life collide when using mobile phones? What can government do to encourage responsible use of mobile phones?
What does participation entail?
The study involves having highly trained social scientists visit and talk with you either at home or at work. We are interested in learning how you use your mobile phone for work, and how it might affect your home life. This research method is called “ethnography,” and entails the researcher spending time with you to understand how you use your mobile phone. The research team is especially keen to recruit companies who may be interested in creating mobile phone policies for its employees.
Researchers would take notes, record an audio conversation with you, and take some non-identifying photographs.
Will my participation be confidential?
Your identity and your company’s identity would be completely anonymous.
What kinds of people are you looking for?
To qualify, you must use a “smart phone” (e.g., iPhone or BlackBerry), and use this phone for work on a regular basis. Phase I will be interviews in Southern Ontario, and potentially “cluster interviews” in other Canadian locations. We won’t be interviewing outside of Canada.
Who’s sponsoring this study?
This study is based at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, under the direction of Dr. Catherine Middleton as co-principal investigator, and Dr. Sam Ladner as postdoctoral research fellow. It is funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
What will you do with the information you gather?
The research team will keep all identifying information strictly confidential. Our findings, which will be anonymized, will be shared in a number of ways:
- White papers posted on this web site
- Peer-reviewed papers
- Conference presentations, which will be shared on slideshare.net
- Tweets of interim findings
- Face-to-face conversations