Focus and Distraction 2025 (Dataset)
Dataset summary: A de-identified open dataset (n=790) examining how notifications, multitasking, and digital behaviours influence attention, focus, productivity, and perceived energy among adults across six English-speaking countries.
Measures include notification frequency and interruption patterns, perceived ability to concentrate, task-switching behaviours, mental fatigue, productivity impacts, energy levels, strategies used to manage distraction, digital life exposure, technology use behaviours, and demographic variables. The dataset provides behavioural insights into how digital environments influence attention, cognitive load, and sustained focus.
Part of the Human Clarity Institute's Human–AI Experience Data Series.
Framework
HRL domain(s): Attention & Cognitive Load, Values & Meaning
Registry construct alignment: Attention Capacity, Cognitive Load, Behavioural Alignment, Meaning Coherence
Listed constructs reflect longitudinal, registry-mapped item alignment and do not represent the full thematic scope of this dataset.
Dataset Availability
Participant-level dataset downloads are temporarily unavailable while the Human Clarity Institute completes an independent privacy and data governance review.
This reflects our ongoing commitment to responsible data stewardship, contemporary de-identification standards, and participant privacy.
Study methodology, summary findings, benchmark statistics, and citation information remain publicly available through this website and the permanent Zenodo record.
Researchers, universities, and organisations interested in accessing a dataset or discussing research collaboration are welcome to contact info@humanclarityinstitute.com.
Citation & Dataset Record
The Zenodo DOI provides the permanent scholarly record for this dataset, including version history, metadata, and citation information.
Citation
APA
Human Clarity Institute. (2025). Focus and Distraction 2025 (Dataset). Human Clarity Institute. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17394086
BibTeX
@dataset{hci_focus_distraction_2025,
author = {Human Clarity Institute},
title = {Focus and Distraction 2025 (Dataset)},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.17394086},
url = {https://humanclarityinstitute.com/datasets/focus-distraction-2025/},
license = {CC-BY-4.0}
}
License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
You are free to share, adapt, and build upon publicly available HCI datasets for any purpose, including commercial use, provided appropriate credit is given to the Human Clarity Institute.
Full licence text: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Data Summary
Explore the key findings and behavioural signals from this dataset.
Methodology
This dataset forms part of the Human Clarity Institute’s Human–AI Experience research programme, examining how digital environments shape attention stability, distraction patterns, perceived busyness, cognitive strain, productivity, and behavioural alignment in everyday life. The study uses a cross-sectional online survey design and focuses on descriptive patterns in how people experience focus, interruption, multitasking, and attention management in digitally mediated environments.
Data were collected via the Prolific research platform on 3 September 2025 from adults across the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Participants provided informed consent for their de-identified survey responses to be publicly released for research purposes.
Sampling & Participants
- Final sample: 790 participants
- Sampling countries: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand
- Eligibility: Adults (18+) fluent in English
- Recruitment platform: Prolific
The resulting dataset should be interpreted as a non-probability convenience sample and is not intended to represent national populations.
Data Integrity
All percentages reported on this page are calculated from valid responses in the cleaned dataset (n = 790). Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number for readability. Unless otherwise stated, summary percentages combine respondents selecting 5–7 on the 7-point agreement scale.
Public release datasets undergo structured de-identification prior to publication. Direct identifiers, participant IDs, timestamps, geographic variables, and participant free-text responses are removed or transformed where appropriate to reduce re-identification risk while preserving research utility.
This dataset is exploratory and descriptive in nature. It does not support causal inference and results should be interpreted as observed patterns within the survey sample.
Data use and reuse terms are outlined in our Data Use & Disclaimer.
Related Research
Explore further analysis on Human Clarity Insights, or browse the full collection of Human Clarity Institute research reports.
Why Can’t I Focus?
Why Can’t I Focus? examines the hidden costs of digital distraction and how continual interruption competes with attention, reflection, and clarity about what matters most.
Values vs Noise
Values vs Noise explores how digitally saturated environments compete with attention, reflection, and internally guided priorities — shaping coherence, direction, and meaningful human functioning over time.
Data use and reuse terms are outlined in our Data Use & Disclaimer.