Abstract
<p>People use computers and smartphones interchangeably for a wide range of tasks, yet it remains unclear whether both devices support cognitive functioning equally well. So far, the answer to this question comes from many fragmented findings across various fields of research, sometimes pointing in opposite directions, making it difficult to draw general conclusions. To investigate the overall effect of device type on cognitive functioning, we conducted a multilevel meta-analysis of the literature, with three levels of analysis (3680 participants within 69 studies within 18 papers). Studies were included if they measured actual cognitive functioning in a randomized experimental design. We found an overall effect of device type, with cognitive functioning better when tasks were completed on computers than on smartphones. The effect was not moderated by device ownership, study design (between/within), study environment (online/laboratory), or year of publication. We discuss several potential explanations for this effect and recommend tailoring tasks to devices to enhance cognitive functioning in the digital era.</p>