![]() A simple but elegant measure of working memory and executive functioning is the Operation Span (OSPAN) task developed by Engle. Additionally, when task switching occurs, interference from the representations and stimuli associated with the off task must be minimized. Executive attention is central to multi-tasking because the information and goals relevant to one task must be actively maintained while other tasks are performed. Models of executive attention highlight the role of the frontally mediated capacity to maintain task goals and to avoid conflicting distractions. The most effective and efficient multi-taskers should be those who are able to exercise a high level of executive control. Generally, the people who should be most likely to engage in multiple tasks are those who are good at multi-tasking and who expect the highest rewards and lowest costs. ![]() Research on decision making – indicates that the willingness to multi-task should be contingent, in part, on the expected outcomes or consequences. Moreover, performance on individual tasks may suffer such that errors are made and overall productivity is diminished. However, engaging in multiple attention demanding tasks simultaneously may be cognitively and physically taxing. Multi-tasking enables people to achieve more goals and to experience more activities. However, we hypothesize that there are important motivations and processes contributing to multi-tasking that have little to do with people’s proficiencies. Decision theory suggests that people should multi-task when they are good at it and expect to benefit from it. We investigated both the predictors of general multi-tasking and the predictors of a specific and potentially dangerous form of multi-tasking – the usage of cellular communications while driving. Our research represents an initial examination of important factors contributing to multi-tasking behavior. Related to this, little is known about who is most likely to multi-task. Although multi-tasking is commonplace, relatively little is known about when and why people perform more than one attention-demanding task at a time. Multi-tasking involves concurrent performance of two or more functionally independent tasks with each of the tasks having unique goals involving distinct stimuli (or stimulus attributes), mental transformation, and response outputs. Frequently, they multi-task, that is, they engage in multiple tasks aimed at attaining multiple goals simultaneously. People are not always content doing one thing at a time. Participants with less executive control - low scorers on the Operation Span task and persons high in impulsivity - tended to report higher levels of multi-tasking activity. Finally, the findings suggest that people often engage in multi-tasking because they are less able to block out distractions and focus on a singular task. Participants with a strong approach orientation and a weak avoidance orientation – high levels of impulsivity and sensation seeking – reported greater multi-tasking behavior. Multi-tasking was positively correlated with participants’ perceived ability to multi-task ability which was found to be significantly inflated. To the contrary, multi-tasking activity as measured by the Media Multitasking Inventory and self-reported cell phone usage while driving were negatively correlated with actual multi-tasking ability. The findings indicate that the persons who are most capable of multi-tasking effectively are not the persons who are most likely to engage in multiple tasks simultaneously. In addition, they performed the Operation Span in order to assess their executive control and actual multi-tasking ability. Participants enrolled at the University of Utah completed measures of multi-tasking activity, perceived multi-tasking ability, impulsivity, and sensation seeking. ![]() The present study examined the relationship between personality and individual differences in multi-tasking ability.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |