In search of a measure to investigate cyberloafing in educational settings

Abstract

Cyberloafing is among the problematic tech-trends in contemporary work-based and educational settings. The current study administered an existing three-factor scale to three samples. The factor structure was not confirmed among high school teachers (n: 33), high school students (n: 479) and undergraduates (n: 86). A new and more comprehensive scale to address contemporary cyberloafing behaviors during lectures was developed through literature review, expert panels and observations. Data from undergraduate students (n: 471) were used for construct validation with an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which revealed a five-factor structure and explained 70.44% of the total variance. Factors were sharing, shopping, real-time updating, accessing online content and gaming/gambling. The scale was administered to another undergraduate student sample (n: 215) and a social networker student group (n: 515). The structure was validated in these new samples through confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). The scale and current findings are expected to facilitate further cyberloafing research in educational settings