PhD project
Navigating the cross-contextual media landscape: Children’s digital media use and their social development
For this project we delve into children's digital media use during the transition from kindergarten to group 3 and investigate its impact on their social development.
- Duration
- 2023 - 2028
- Contact
- Els Goetschalckx
- Funding
- Dutch National Research Agenda
- Partners
This project is a part of the JEDi project (Jeugd En Digitalisering), led by Utrecht University, bringing together multiple universities and practice partners. For a complete list of participating institutions, visit https://jedi.sites.uu.nl/consortium/ (website in Dutch).
Researchers
- E.D.S. Goetschalckx MSc - PhD candidate
- prof.dr. N. Saab - supervisor
- prof.dr. E.J.P.G. Denessen (Radboud University) - co-supervisor
- dr. L.S. Post (Leiden University) - co-supervisor
- dr. I.M. Koning (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) - co-supervisor
Many young kids spend at least one and a half hours daily on screens, making digital media an integral part of children’s and parents’ lives. With growing evidence of both positive and negative impacts, we aim to conduct in-depth research on how digital media affects children's social development. Our focus is the transition from kindergarten to grade 3, a crucial phase wherein children experience a significant social development spurt.
Research questions
- What does the social digital media landscape look like for children aged 5-7 years old?
- How does digital media use affect social development in children aged 5-7 years old?
- To what extent do key persons (i.e., family, teachers and peers) influence the relationship between digital media use and social development in children aged 5-7 years old?
- How can we develop and/or evaluate skills and tools to support a positive impact of children’s digital media use on their social development?
Social and scientific relevance
In today's digital age, where children are constantly engaged with digital media both at home and in school, understanding its profound impact on social development is vital. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights regarding the appropriate use of digital media in children. This can aid in the formulation of informed guidelines for healthy digital media use in early childhood, promoting positive social interactions and skills. The ultimate goal is to inform scientists, policymakers, parents, educators, and children about the intricate relationship between children's digital media use and social development. Moreover, we aim to develop and/or evaluate the necessary skills and tools to positively influence children's social development through digital media use.
With society undergoing rapid changes in digital access, science struggles to keep pace. Our research goes beyond current boundaries by introducing innovative methods to assess digital media use across the entire media landscape, setting a new standard in research practices. The resulting longitudinal dataset will be the foundation for impactful scientific publications, shaping the future of research. This dataset will be made open-access, ensuring a lasting scientific impact beyond the project's conclusion.
Methods
We'll begin this project with a qualitative exploratory study, engaging children to discuss the social aspects of their digital media use, mapping their social digital media landscape. The fundamental base of the project involves quantitative analyses of longitudinal data on digital media use across contexts, correlating with social development. Complementing this, we'll conduct an experimental study. Additionally, a practice-oriented research project will be initiated, involving action research and consultation with stakeholders such as teachers, youth professionals, children, and parents.