Caplan, Scott E.Courtright, John A.2023-07-112023-07-112023-05-09Scott E. Caplan & John A. Courtright (2023) The Effects of Mobile Device Use and Presence on Perceptions of a Conversation Partner, Western Journal of Communication, DOI: 10.1080/10570314.2023.22027981745-1027https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/32987This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Western Journal of Communication on 05/09/2023, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2023.2202798. © 2023 Western States Communication Association. This article will be embargoed until 11/09/2024.This study examined the effects of mobile device use, and its mere presence, on in-person conversations. The study utilized an experimental design to replicate and advance existing scholarship on the impact of co-present device use and mere device presence on a conversation. This study examined how the presence of an unused device may hinder conversation, and the results did not replicate the mere presence effect. The study found participants reacted negatively to a confederate’s phone use, regardless of whether it was self- or externally initiated.en-USmobile phonemere presence phubbingArticle