Investigating factors that influence conventional distraction and tech-related distraction in math homework

• This study examined high school students' distractions in math homework.
• Conventional distraction (CD) and tech-related distraction (TD) were distinguishable.
• Both CD and TD were negatively related to homework effort and value belief.
• CD was negatively related to expectancy belief, affective attitude, and grade level.
• TC was positively related to parent education.

This study examined high school students' distractions in math homework. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the scores of six items regarding conventional and tech-related distractions. Data revealed that conventional and tech-related distractions were empirically distinguishable. Two multilevel models were performed, with each type of distractions as the dependent variable. Both types of distraction were negatively related to four student-level variables (homework effort, homework environment, learning-oriented reasons, and value belief). In addition, both were positively related to three student-level variables (time on videogame, peer-oriented reasons, and time on homework) and one class-level variable (time on homework). Meanwhile, tech-related distraction was positively associated with parent education, whereas conventional distraction was negatively associated with expectancy belief, affective attitude, and grade level.