"Think You’re Great at Multitasking? Think Again"
I. Introduction
A. Many people believe they are good at multitasking.
B. Those who think they multitask well often do not.
II. Study Overview
A. Conducted by David Sanbonmatsu at the University of Utah.
B. Published in PLoS One.
C. Goal: To see if people’s beliefs about multitasking match their actual ability.
III. Method
A. 277 college students participated.
B. They did a memory and math task.
C. They answered questions about their habits.
IV. Key Findings
A. Many students thought they were "above average" at multitasking.
B. This is statistically impossible.
C. Students who multitasked often did worse on the tasks.
D. Impulsive students multitasked more, but not all phone users while driving were impulsive.
V. Implications
A. Boredom can lead to multitasking.
B. Multitasking while driving is dangerous and causes accidents.
VI. Conclusion
A. Summary of main points.
B. Recognizing the risks of multitasking is important.
Summary
A recent study conducted by University of Utah psychologist David Sanbonmatsu reveals that people who believe they are good at multitasking, such as talking on a cell phone while driving, are often the least capable of doing so effectively. The study involved 277 undergraduate students who completed a memory and math task while also answering questions about their media habits and self-perceived multitasking abilities. Surprisingly, 70% of the participants rated themselves as "above average" at multitasking, a statistically impossible claim. The results showed that those who frequently multitasked performed poorly on the attention-demanding tasks, while those who did not multitask scored higher.
The study also found that impulsive and sensation-seeking students reported more multitasking behavior, but interestingly, those who often used their phones while driving were not necessarily more impulsive. Instead, boredom seemed to drive them to seek stimulation through multitasking. This behavior is concerning, as the National Safety Council estimates that distracted driving contributes to at least 24% of all highway accidents and fatalities in the United States. The findings highlight the dangers of multitasking and the importance of recognizing its limitations.
