Smartphone Disengagement - Autoethnography fieldnotes, classification & interpretation

This dataset contains transcribed fieldnotes from a “methodological assemblage” and technological prototype connecting autoethnography to the practices of self-research in personal science. As an experimental process of personal data gathering, the author used a low-tech device for the active registration of events and their perception, in a case study on disengaging from his smartphone.

The dataset contains 267 data points (timestamp and intensity/duration of perceived events) with alternative classification and subclassification categories through thematic analysis, as well as 112 "on spot" fieldnotes and 112 related retrospective interpretation notes (with corresponding references where indicated) from a focused autoethnography intervention, tracking the authors' experience of living without constant access to a smartphone for a month (during May 2021).

For more info on the process and the main results of this personal experiment, here's the derived publication: Senabre Hidalgo, E., & Greshake Tzovaras, B. (2023). “One button in my pocket instead of the smartphone”: A methodological assemblage connecting self-research and autoethnography in a digital disengagement study. Methodological Innovations. https://doi.org/10.1177/20597991231161093

As described in the paper, this dataset contains a classification of events based on two complementary approaches:

Initial categories (May 2021): Positive - Negative - Reflection

Retrospective categories and subcategories (November 2021):

Response to habit:  

Basic impulse: looking for smartphone in pocket  / “If I had it now…”

Abstinence reaction: attempts to reconnect to “the cloud”

Fear of missing out (FOMO) after long periods of time

Disruption in basic routine: perception of altered habits

Social context:

Feelings of embarrassment: in relation to others due to feature phone

Observing others: people using smartphones around me

Meta level: how to share process afterwards (in community, academically)

User experience (UX) practicalities:

Moving around solo: orientation when commuting without GPS

Parasitic use of other smartphones (in case of urgent need) 

Capturing things on the spot (pictures, information, feelings)

Local stored culture (music and reading away from screens)

Communication problems: dysfunctions in everyday coordination

Reconnection need: whenever ending up using the smartphone again

Self-reinforcing / awareness:

Succeeding in intended detox: satisfaction for achievement 

Full attention to moment / stimulus: mindfulness and concentration

Relevant changes in routine: positive reinforcement by new habit