Project description
In the pursuit of digital well-being
Smartphones and tablets are just a few of the digital technologies that ensure ubiquitous connectivity. Being constantly connected can increase one’s autonomy as it can help to manage day-to-day activities and provide instant communication. At the same time, it can also threaten one’s autonomy as it can divert attention away from carrying out primary activities. This raises the important question of how to best balance connectivity and disconnectivity to achieve digital well-being. In the context of this, the EU-funded DISCONNECT project will develop a pathway model of digital well-being. Through empirical testing of the model, the project aims to gain new insights that stakeholders such as policymakers can use to increase digital well-being for all.
Objective
Ubiquitous connectivity increases our autonomy: We can connect to content, contacts and services without time or place constraints. Paradoxically, however, ubiquitous connectivity also threatens that very autonomy: The addictive design of digital technologies diverts attention away from our primary activities, and in our contemporary culture of connectivity we face increasing pressures to be permanently online and permanently connected. This mobile connectivity paradox presents an urgent challenge: How can we balance connectivity and disconnectivity so that we experience digital wellbeing?
Current scholarship lacks answers to this question. It fails to account for the dynamic nature of digital wellbeing and to sufficiently address the interplay between psychological, technological and social factors. This research project overcomes these limitations by building a dynamic pathway model of digital wellbeing. The model is tested via a multi-method and multi-paradigmatic empirical approach that integrates traditional data sources with behavioral data gathered via device logging and dynamic data on users’ momentary states and contexts gathered via mobile experience sampling. Data are analyzed using innovative digital ethnographic and machine learning methods.
This empirical test of the dynamic pathway model of digital wellbeing gives insight into (1) how individuals understand and practice digital wellbeing, (2) which constellations of person-, device- and context-specific factors form pathways that lead to short-term changes in digital wellbeing and long-term changes in indicators of overall wellbeing such as burnout or depression, and (3) what impact digital wellbeing interventions have on digital wellbeing. Armed with these insights, stakeholders such as users, technology developers and policy makers can take steps to increase digital wellbeing.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9000 GENT
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.