About the study

At a GaPP lunch seminar this tuesday, master's students Andreas Andersson and Sandra Gidmark presented their thesis on smartphone restrictions in Swedish schools. Their research looks at what happens when schools try to limit phone use - but go about it in very different ways.

Some schools apply strict no-phone rules. Others are more flexible, letting students use phones at certain times or in certain places. This variety in approach leads to very different results.

The study shows that strict bans can help students concentrate better and reduce distractions in class. But if rules are unclear or enforced unevenly, students might ignore them - or feel anxious about being punished. On the other hand, schools that take the time to explain why they have phone rules, or involve students in setting them, often see better results—without needing to be as strict.

The project is supervised by Mats Jutterström, researcher at the Center for Educational Leadership and Excellence (CELE) at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Why it matters

This research matters for anyone interested in education, digital habits and smart policymaking. As more schools consider phone bans, the findings suggest that it’s not just the rule itself that makes a difference - but how the rule is introduced, explained and followed up.