Does a Full Metal Fidget Spinner Increase On-Tack Behavior?

Does a Full Metal Fidget Spinner Increase On-Tack Behavior?

For this article, we studied three students from a classroom in which all students had access to a full metal fidget spinner. Permission was obtained from the principal, teacher, university institutional review board, and the participants' parents before beginning the study. The study was conducted using a concurrent multiple-baseline across-students design. The experiment was carried out over five weeks in December and January. Each student was given a white and black 3-in. (7.26 cm) plastic fidget spinner with metal weights and a paper listing the fidget spinner rules. Behavioral observation data were recorded using the Insight Observation Timer app on an iPad (sixth generation, iOS 12.1.4).

The full metal fidget spinner became a popular trending toy in 2017. These small handheld devices consist of a central piece with multiple lobes that can be spun between fingers or other body parts. They can be made of a variety of materials, including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper, and plastic. They have become an effective tool to relieve stress and focus. Some are designed to be tracked by consumers for their origin and safety, such as those containing magnets (see our Magnet business guidance page). Currently, there is little evidence that fidget spinners increase on-task behavior. Future research should measure the duration and frequency of active fidget spinner use, as well as the type of movement that occurs when using the device (e.g., pencil tapping, knee bouncing, wiggling) to determine whether it is the item itself or the set of rules that increases on-task behavior.

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