There and Back Again: A (Reversed) Vygotskian Perspective on Digital Socialization

The baby duck syndrome as cognitive bias in user-interface interaction

As technological interfaces are relatively new cultural tools, regular interaction can lead to new psychological phenomena, like the baby duck syndrome, where users favor old interfaces over updates. This syndrome is seen as a cognitive bias in human-computer interaction. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 on an Airbnb app (old vs. new versions), and Study 2 on a self-developed website (blue vs. purple design). Subjects completed sequential five usability tasks in two blocks with the resting between. Experimental groups engaged with different interface versions, while control groups used the same one. After completing tasks, subjects filled questionnaires about interface interaction. Study 1 showed significantly higher preference for the old Airbnb version, though scores varied by group. Study 2 revealed a trend of reduced scores in experimental groups on second assessment, not seen in controls. Version-based rating differences were insignificant. Overall, Studies 1 and 2 indicated baby duck syndrome is challenging to study in labs, suggesting it emerges when users are genuinely engaged with the interface. This article has both theoretical and experimental significance for studying the emergence of psychological phenomena in human-digital interaction. As a practical application, the obtained results can be useful for correct development updates for interfaces.

Voluntariness and type of digital device usage: A study in terms of Vygotsky's cultural-historical perspective

Introduction

In recent years, exposure to digital devices during the development stages of a child has been steadily increasing. Exploring the relationship between children's digital device exposure and their voluntariness still shows quite contradictory results. Screen time is the most studied factor on this issue. The purpose of the present study was to suggest the type of digital device used is another factor in addition to screen time. In accordance with the research hypothesis, the use of digital devices as a psychological means is related to higher voluntariness scores.

Methods

The study sample was recruited from Moscow kindergartens and schools: preschoolers aged 5-6 years (n = 408) and 6-7 years (n = 351) and schoolchildren aged 7-8 years (n = 253) and 9-10 years (n = 101). The study participants took part in a voluntariness assessment performed via executive functions' (EF) evaluation as well as in a semi-structured interview to identify the type and frequency of digital device usage.

Results

There are three findings of the present study, which are given as follows. First, the "frequency of digital device usage" predictor proved its statistical significance for verbal working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility at 7-8 years, and for verbal working memory at 6-7 years. Second, the number of children who use digital devices as a psychological means increases as they grow older. Third, the number of children who use digital devices as a psychological means tends to demonstrate higher mean scores for any executive function skills at 6-7 and 9-10 years and for visual and verbal working memory at 7-8 years. Multiple regression models did not confirm the significance of the "type of digital devices usage" predictor for executive function skills considering the participants' individual characteristics.

Discussion

"Type of digital devices usage" predictor is assumed to be more applicable to children at the end of primary school and older when exploring executive function skills in the context of children's digital device exposure.

Features of the Attention Span in Adult Internet Users

The article generally considers the problem of changes in the functioning of cognitive processes in the context of digitalization. Systematization of the current studies on attention reveals that the vast majority of them are devoted to media multitasking, the results of which are rather contradictory and relate mainly to adolescents and young men. The academic community also analyzes the impact of digital technologies on the attention of students of different age groups, the effect of which is assessed rather as negative. The present study tests the hypothesis of possible changes in the implementation of this cognitive function in adult Internet users. Empirical testing was carried out through a comparative analysis of the attention span in adults who prefer different information coding systems: traditional (“paper”) or digital. The study sample included people aged 37-60 who received higher education in the pre-digital era and are currently engaged in intellectual work; they were divided into two groups: adult readers and adult Internet users (n = 50 each). To clarify the differences in the attention span in adult respondents with different practices of accessing information carriers, a group of students, active young Internet users (n = 50), was also involved. The attention span parameters were assessed using Bourdon’s dot cancellation test. The results of the study statistically reliably show that the adult readers ( p ≤ 0.01) have a higher ability to concentrate attention than active Internet users (both young and adults), keeping it within the normative boundaries that were inherent in people of the pre-digital era.

Psychological support of cognitive and psychosocial development of primary schoolchildren in the context of e-Learning

The article presents an analysis of modern research on international educational practices of distance learning from the point of view of psychological support of cognitive and psychosocial development of schoolchildren. There are three stages of the development of these studies: catching up, operational and advanced. In catch-up studies, the authors focus on the analysis of psychological risks arising in the context of global digitalization of education; the negative impact of educational IT products on the cognitive, psychosocial and psychophysical development of a child’s personality is noted. Operational studies are works that are of an ascertaining nature and proceed from the need to adapt digital tools and electronic means to traditional learning in order to increase its effectiveness. The main targets of advanced research are not risks and attempts of psychological adaptation to widespread and newly created digital educational technologies, the main attention of their supporters is paid to understanding the very fact of digital transformation of education. Hybrid forms of educational organization, allowing to comfortably connect virtual and physical spaces, are considered by them as the inevitable perspective of education. The authors of the article see the lack of systematic research, as well as theories and concepts of the mental development of a modern child in the digital world as an obstacle to the progress of research and practical tools for psychological support of schoolchildren in distance education.