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