James A. Roberts, Ph.D.
The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing | Baylor University
Waco, TX, UNITED STATES
Expert on consumer behavior, compulsive buying & the impact of smartphone and social media use on well-being
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Biography
James A. Roberts, Ph.D., is The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. A noted consumer behavior expert, he is among the "World's Top 2%" most-cited scientists in a database compiled by Stanford University. In addition to journal citations, Roberts has often been called upon by national media outlets for his consumer expertise and latest research. He has appeared on the CBS Early Show, ABC World News Tonight, ABC Good Morning America, NBC’s TODAY Show and NPR’s Morning Edition, as well as in articles in The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, TIME and many others.
Roberts’ research focuses on how individual consumer attitudes and behavior impact personal and collective well-being. His research has investigated the factors that drive ecologically and socially conscious consumer behavior, the impact of materialism and compulsive buying on well-being and the impact of smartphone and social media use on personal well-being. He is the author of “Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t Have in Search of Happiness We Can’t Buy” and “Too Much of a Good Thing: Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?”
Areas of Expertise (11)
Consumer Psychology
Consumer Behavior
Marketing
Consumer Culture
Materialism
Philosophy
Smartphone Addiction
Smartphone Use
Cellphone Use
Self-Control
Compulsive Buying
Education (2)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln: Ph.D., Philosophy
University of St. Thomas: B.A., Marketing
Links (2)
Media Appearances (8)
New study: Self-centered people turn to social media out of weakness, not ego
PsyPost online
2024-10-27
Baylor marketing professors James A. Roberts, Ph.D., and Meredith E. David, Ph.D., are quoted about their latest social media study that sheds light on the motivations behind social media use among self-centered individuals, who turn to social media more out of a fear of missing out (FOMO) rather than a desire to reinforce their self-importance.
A day off the grid, from a finalist of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday online
2024-06-29
AUDIO: Baylor smartphone researcher James A. Roberts, Ph.D., was interviewed by Northwestern University journalism student Brandon Kondritz for his entry in the NPR College Podcast Challenge. Kondritz's podcast focused on his experience spending an entire day unplugged.
Is TikTok breaking young voters' brains?
Vox online
2024-07-05
Research from Baylor smartphone researchers Meredith E. David, Ph.D., and James A. Roberts, Ph.D., is featured in this article on the addictive nature of TikTok and how it can influence the political leanings of Gen Z.
This Common Bedtime Habit Might Be Killing Your Relationship
Huff Post online
2024-04-26
This article cites a 2017 Baylor study of 143 people in romantic relationships – led by consumer behavior researchers James A. Roberts, Ph.D., and Meredith E. David, Ph.D. – in which 70% of participants said that cellphones “sometimes,” “often,” “very often” or “all the time” interfered in their interactions with their partners.
How Often Do You Take Breaks From Your Phone?
The New York Times online
2024-04-09
In this article about strategies to have a healthier relationship with your devices, Baylor consumer behavior expert James A. Roberts, Ph.D., suggests that controlling your environment instead of relying on sheer willpower alone.
How to Have a Healthier Relationship With Your Phone
The New York Times online
2024-03-21
In this article about using tech in a way that serves you, Baylor consumer behavior expert James A. Roberts, Ph.D., said don’t rely on willpower alone to keep screen time down. Instead, tweak your surroundings.
For God’s sake: Baylor researchers develop a new model to predict smartphone use during church services
EurekAlert online
2023-02-15
Noted Baylor smartphone researchers and marketing professors Meredith E. David, Ph.D., and James A. Roberts, Ph.D., have developed a new model that is a powerful predictor of the acceptance of incorporating smartphones into a church service.
Children Get Emotionally Crushed; Wish They Are as Important to Their Phone-Crazy Parents
Parent Herald online
2022-10-15
James A. Roberts, Ph.D., reminds busy parents that all the time and moments spent on phones have a "heavy price to pay." He suggested that as a family, there must be a spouse-to-spouse or parent-to-child time free of devices.
Articles (4)
Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among high and low reward romantic partners: an expectancy violations theory perspective
International Journal of Human–Computer InteractionJames A. Roberts, Meredith E. David
2024-09-16
Partner phubbing (phone snubbing) is when someone uses or is distracted by their cellphone while with their partner. This research explores how partner phubbing affects relationship satisfaction through the lens of Expectancy Violations Theory. In two studies—a survey of 180 people in relationships and an experiment with 141 married adults—results show that partner phubbing creates negative expectancy violations, reducing relationship satisfaction. However, the impact varies with the phubber's "partner reward value": when reward value is low, phubbing strongly reduces satisfaction, but this effect becomes non-significant when reward value is high.
TikTok Brain: An Investigation of Short-Form Video Use, Self-Control, and Phubbing
Social Science Computer ReviewMeredith E. David, James A. Roberts
2024-08-29
Phubbing (phone snubbing) has become common, with most U.S. adults reporting phone use during social interactions, which negatively impacts relationships. Recent research shows that viewing short-form videos (SFVs) like TikTok is more addictive than traditional social media, increasing phubbing behavior. Across two studies, this research explores the link between SFV viewing and phubbing, focusing on self-control as a mediator. Study 1 finds that watching TikTok videos is associated with increased phubbing due to reduced self-control, a relationship not seen with Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. Study 2, with additional self-control measures, confirms this TikTok-specific effect. The findings suggest that TikTok viewing undermines self-control, increasing phubbing, and highlight self-control’s broader impact on behavior and decision-making.
For God’s Sake: Integrating the Theory of Reasoned Action and Technology Acceptance Model to Predict Smartphone Use during Church Services
International Journal of Human–Computer InteractionMeredith E. David, James A. Roberts
2024-04-02
Smartphone use is now common even during church services. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Technology Acceptance Model, this study develops a model to identify key factors driving smartphone use in church, including Smartphone Playfulness as an intrinsic motivator. A survey of 329 U.S. adults shows that the model explains 66% of the variance in intentions to use smartphones in church. A follow-up with 164 respondents six weeks later shows that these intentions explain 44% of actual smartphone use. This model may help explain acceptance of various computer-based media technologies.
The dual nature of social media: Examining the direction of causal flow between fear of missing out and social media use
Meredith E. David, James A. RobertsCyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
2023-12-01
The dual (bidirectional) nature of social media suggests that fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) leads to greater social media use (SMU). In turn, higher levels of SMU lead to heightened FOMO. Ironically, individuals use social media to assuage their FOMO but end up with higher levels of FOMO after being exposed to a wide variety of social opportunities, where they may not have been included. The present research examines the hypothesized bidirectional causal flow between FOMO and SMU. Extant research involving FOMO has been largely correlational. In Study 1, FOMO was manipulated and found to increase reported levels of SMU. Study 2 manipulated SMU, which led to higher levels of FOMO. It appears that, regarding FOMO, social media does exhibit a dual (bidirectional) nature.
