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