Mining digital reality

Exploring the virtual activities of undergraduate students

Abstract

This study explored the computer usage behaviour of undergraduate students, by using Reality Mining techniques to capture naturally-occurring digital traces. We harvested over 14,000 hours of computer usage data from 21 undergraduate students at a New Zealand university over the period of one semester. Our preliminary analysis has given us some insights into: 1] what applications students use most frequently, 2] how much students use their computes during the semester, 3] the multi-tasking/task- switching behaviours of students, and 4] the times most common for students to use their computer devices. These results, which are from a larger ongoing study, point to interesting areas for future research around the complexities of student digital behaviours, and illustrates the potential of new research methods to capture data about student practices.