Introduction
-
Common belief in personal multitasking ability (e.g., phone while driving).
-
New study contradicts this belief: the self-proclaimed best multitaskers are the worst.
-
-
Study Overview
-
Conducted by the University of Utah, published in PLoS One.
-
Participants: 277 undergraduates.
-
-
Methodology
-
OSPAN task for testing attention under divided focus.
-
Questionnaires on media use, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and driving behavior.
-
-
Findings
-
Discrepancy between perceived and actual multitasking performance.
-
Strong media multitaskers scored lower; low multitaskers scored highest.
-
Impulsive or sensation-seeking traits are linked to multitasking, except while driving. Boredom—not impulsivity—likely explains phone use while driving.
-
-
Discussion
-
Multitasking arises from the inability to focus.
-
Driving distractions are particularly hazardous.
-
-
Conclusion & Implications
-
Self-perception of multitasking skill is flawed.
-
Multitasking hampers performance and safety (especially while driving).
-
