the effects of chronic multitasking on analytical writing

The Effects of Chronic Multitasking on Analytical Writing

Danielle Lottridge, Christine Rosakranse, Catherine Oh, Sean Westwood, Katherine Baldoni, Abrey Mann, Cliff Nass

Stanford University Communication Department, CHI 2015

definition: !!!!!!

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media multitasking

state/trait: !

Multitasking Media Multitasking

State Trait

media multitasking! Is it good or bad for you? !

• HMM are bad at precisely the tasks at which one would expect them to be good [Ophir, 2009]!!!!!

!•"It remains possible that future tests of higher-order cognition will uncover benefits...of heavy media multitasking…”!!

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RQ: What are the effects of chronic multitasking and type of multitasking on writing quality?

• 80 high and low media multitasks • sessions in groups of 5, for group chat • GRE essay • irrelevant and relevant links/comments in

“live forum, synched with another group”

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Costs of multitasking!!!!!!!

• The more switches, the less time spent writing (r = -.528, p<.001)

0-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Num

ber

of S

wit

ches

Time Spent Writing (Minutes)0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Costs of multitasking Costs of multitasking

Costs of multitasking

!!!!!!!

• The more switches, the worse the quality of writing (r = -.307, p=.006)

Num

ber

of S

wit

ches

0-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3

Poor High Writing Quality

Costs of multitasking Costs of multitasking

Costs of multitasking

• HMM spent a quarter of their allotted time following irrelevant links (almost 7 minutes)

• ….whereas LMM spent only 4.5 minutes,

F[1,79]=6.314, p=.01

Costs of multitasking Costs of multitasking

Poor High Writing Quality

LMM

HMM

HMM seduced by distractions, helped by relevant links

F[1,79]=4.291, p=.04

irrelevant !!relevant !!irrelevant !!relevant !!!

HMM seduced by distractions, helped by relevant links

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Drinking Soju

Media Multitasking

Conclusion: Multitasking is both good and bad for you…

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If you are a chronic multitasker, write with relevant media to do better. !Irrelevant media hurts performance.

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Questions?*

* Please Multitask Responsibly