The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index, and 1 are not checked yet.
How Much Time Do You Spend Online? Understanding and Improving the Accuracy of Self-Reported Measures of Internet Use
Open accessAbstract
Given the importance of survey measures of online media use for communication research, it is crucial to assess and improve their quality, in particular because the increasingly fragmented and ubiquitous usage of internet complicates the accuracy of self-reported measures. This study contributes to the discussion regarding the accuracy of self-reported internet use by presenting relevant factors potentially affecting biases of self-reports and testing survey design strategies to improve accuracy. Combining automatic tracking data and survey data from the same participants (N = 690) confirmed low levels of accuracy and tendencies of over-reporting. The analysis revealed biases due to a range of factors associated with the intensity of (actual) internet usage, propensity to multitask, day of reference, and the usage of mobile devices. An anchoring technique could not be proved to reduce inaccuracies of reporting behavior. Several recommendations for research practice follow from these findings.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, light users tend to overestimate their screen time, whereas heavy users tend to underestimate their screen time [9].”
From The effects of smartphones on well-being: theoretical integration and research agenda (2020) · cites this paper as [9]
In the citing paper
“People's subjective estimates of their average screen time share as little as 10% variance with their actual screen time when measured objectively [9].”
From The effects of smartphones on well-being: theoretical integration and research agenda (2020) · cites this paper as [9]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Self-reports: How the questions shape the answers.
Schwarz, N. (1999) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.54.2.93 · Cited by 2,846
Response strategies for coping with the cognitive demands of attitude measures in surveys
Krosnick, J. A. (1991) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.2350050305 · Cited by 2,487
Papacharissi, Z., & Rubin, A. M. (2000) · Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media · doi:10.1207/s15506878jobem4402_2 · Cited by 1,826
Digital Inequality: Differences in Young Adults' Use of the Internet
Hargittai, E., & Hinnant, A. (2008) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/0093650208321782 · Cited by 1,251
Executive control of cognitive processes in task switching
Rubinstein, J. S., Meyer, D. E., & Evans, J. E. (2001) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance · doi:10.1037//0096-1523.27.4.763 · Cited by 1,207
Telephone versus Face-to-Face Interviewing of National Probability Samples with Long Questionnaires
Holbrook, A. L., Green, M. C., & Krosnick, J. A. (2003) · Public Opinion Quarterly · doi:10.1086/346010 · Cited by 916
Unregulated internet usage: addiction, habit, or deficient self-regulation?
LaRose, R., Lin, C. A., & Eastin, M. S. (2003) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1207/s1532785xmep0503_01 · Cited by 868
Asking Questions About Behavior: Cognition, Communication, and Questionnaire Construction
Schwarz, N., & Oyserman, D. (2001) · American Journal of Evaluation · doi:10.1177/109821400102200202 · Cited by 715
Measuring consumer perceptions of online shopping convenience
Jiang, L., Yang, Z., & Jun, M. (2013) · Journal of service management · doi:10.1108/09564231311323962 · Cited by 642
Belli, R. F. (1998) · Memory · doi:10.1080/741942610 · Cited by 583
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Menon G., 2000, The science of self-report: Implications for research and practice, 63
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–238 of 238
Entrepreneurs’ motivation and satisfaction towards Online video-based training and advertisement
Kolej Universiti Poly-Tech, M. A. R. A., & Dahlan, M. M. (2022) · e-Academia Journal · doi:10.24191/e-aj.v11i2.20440
Supplemental Material for Using Browser Data to Understand Desires to Spend Time Online
McCrosky, J. D., Parry, D. A., Sewall, C. J. R., & Orben, A. C. (2023) · Technology Mind and Behavior · doi:10.1037/tmb0000095.supp
Haim, M. (2023) · Studienbücher zur Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-40171-9_3
Balhara, Y. P. S., Singh, S., Ganesh, R., Kattula, D., Abhijita, B., Gupta, A., & Gupta, A. (2023) · Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews · doi:10.2174/2666082219666230801155210
HIGH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ENGAGEMENT BEHAVIOURS IN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Abadia, R., Liu, S., & Sun, Q. (2023) · IADIS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS · doi:10.33965/ijcsis_2023180201
15. Computational Communication Science in a Digital Society
Trilling, D., Araujo, T., Kroon, A. C., Möller, A. M., Strycharz, J., & Vermeer, S. A. M. (2024) · Amsterdam University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9789048560608-016
Alghamdi, A., & Li, J. (2024) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2024.2351706
Gache, C. C., Orillo, J. C., Mayol, A. P., Concepcion, R., Vicerra, R. R. P., Bandala, A. A., Ambata, L. U., Culaba, A. B., & Juan, J. L. S. (2023) · IEEE International Conference on Humanoid, Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Communication and Control, Environment, and Management (HNICEM) · doi:10.1109/hnicem60674.2023.10589164
Reid, M. J., Rojo‐Wissar, D. M., Mei, M., Differding, M. K., Smith, M. T., & Smith, M. G. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.02.03.25321602
Spontaneous Mind Wandering and Smartphone Use
Jones, L. L., Norville, G. A., & Wunder, Z. I. (2025) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/00332941251330555
Data Donation: A First Step Towards Improving Representativeness in Algorithmic Hiring Datasets
Saldivar, J., Wulf, J., & Castillo, C. (2026) · Social Science Computer Review · doi:10.1177/08944393261441840
Self-Reporting News Use in Situ and in Retrospect
Shalev, D., Naab, T. K., & Tsfati, Y. (2025) · International Journal of Public Opinion Research · doi:10.1093/ijpor/edaf027
Alghamdi, A., & Li, J. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2517359
Felt Time Scale (FTS): Development and ValidationPreprint
Dombrowski, J., & Trepte, S. (2025) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/8rwm3_v1
Knowledge is power: Factors that influence effective entrepreneurial decision making
McDaniel, M., & Lewellyn, K. B. (2025) · Journal of the International Council for Small Business · doi:10.1080/26437015.2025.2560060
Ho, M. K. W., Schulz, P. J., & Chang, A. (2025) · JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting · doi:10.2196/75837 · Cited by 2
Rębisz, S., Grygiel, P., Opozda-Suder, S., & Dolata, R. (2025) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.2025.44.5.408
Dorosz, A., Gawłowski, I., Harbut, P., Walczak, D., Nowak, W. E., Kruk, A., Jakubowska, K., Miśta, A., Białoń, A., & Jurczenko, L. (2025) · International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science · doi:10.31435/ijitss.4(48).2025.4462
The Social Self and Living Conditions in a Digitalizing Life
Degen, J. L. (2025) · Palgrave Studies in Cyberpsychology. · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-07438-6_2
Digitale Tagebücher zur Erforschung von Medien- und Datenpraktiken
Schwarzenegger, C., & Wagner, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-49434-6_5
Lawal, M., Omoloso, A. I., La’Aro, O. A., Adisa, R. M., & Udende, P. (2025) · Media and Communication Review · doi:10.32350/mcr.52.02
den Elzen, J. I., Asscher, J. J., Lang, K. M., & Duindam, H. M. (2026) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2026.102141 · Cited by 1
Bohnert, M., Gracia, P., & Kelly, Y. J. (2026) · Youth & Society · doi:10.1177/0044118x261429123
Merino‐Soto, C., Hidalgo-Fuentes, S., Salguero, F. L., Martínez-Álvarez, I., Pineda-Zelaya, I. S., & Chans, G. M. (2026) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-026-04423-7
Expériences adverses durant l'enfance et entrée dans la vie adulte
Biscond, M. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/86d5d288z17f1z4ce5zad4cz6b997763d87d
Matthes, J., Nanz, A., Stubenvoll, M., & Kaskeleviciute, R. (2026) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/00936502261430387
Hartley, S., Royant‐Parola, S., Dagneaux, S., Aussert, F., Tobie, C., Launois, S. H., Fernandez‐Bolaños, M., Rey, A. E., & Mazza, S. (2026) · Frontiers in Sleep · doi:10.3389/frsle.2026.1719668
Screen-age researchers: hybrid participatory ethnography together with 8–9 grade students
Nilsberth, M., Sahlström, F., Hansen, J. J., Laihonen, P., Lysberg, J., Rusk, F., & Öhman, A. (2026) · Ethnography & Education · doi:10.1080/17457823.2026.2677822
Martens, M., & Gaeveren, K. V. (2026) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/s13428-026-03065-2
Roberts, J., David, M. E., & Young, P. (2026) · Journal of Social Media Research · doi:10.29329/jsomer.105
Latent profiles of digital technology use and their relation to executive functions
Trudo, R. G., López‐Morales, H., Arias, C. B., Bruna, O., Sánchez, R., Vernucci, S., & Juric, L. C. (2026) · Child Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/09297049.2026.2705257
Agueli, B., Sulla, F., Fiorentino, G., Spinelli, A., Merafina, N., Marinelli, C. V., & Esposito, C. (2026) · Frontiers in Social Psychology · doi:10.3389/frsps.2026.1844371
Self-reported and logged time spent on TikTok: The role of engagement and use fragmentation
Wang, R., Goetzen, A., Redmiles, E. M., Zannettou, S., & Ayalon, O. (2026) · Telematics and Informatics Reports · doi:10.1016/j.teler.2026.100353
Lissens, M., Waeterloos, C., Vandenbosch, L., & Schmuck, D. (2026) · Political Communication · doi:10.1080/10584609.2026.2708127
Nutzung und Wirkung von digitalen Spielen
Reer, F., Janzik, R., & Quandt, T. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-46851-4_39-1
Menon, S. S., Kumar, S., & Tharayil, H. M. (2026) · Indian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_207_26
Nutzung und Wirkung von digitalen Spielen
Reer, F., Janzik, R., & Quandt, T. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-46851-4_39-2
Metadata
- Authors
- Araujo, T., Wonneberger, A., Neijens, P., & de Vreese, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Araujo, Theo
- Venue
- Communication Methods and Measures
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-04-27
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 173-190
- ISSN
- 1931-2458 (ISSN-L)
- 1931-2466
- OpenAlex
- W2608611108
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 41.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Communication Methods and Measures (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Research Priority Area Communication, University of Amsterdam (2012-2016)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media and Digital Communication
- Keywords
- measurement accuracy, reporting bias, overreporting, survey design, anchoring technique, mobile device use, multitasking, online media use
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
