My Blog Of Knowledge: Multitasking Is Distracting

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.on May 3, 2011

A new study of media multitasking between television and computer finds that performing the two tasks leads to distractions.

Researchers found that when people were placed in a room containing a television and a computer, people on average switched their eyes back and forth between TV and computer a staggering 120 times in 27.5 minutes — or nearly once every 14 seconds.

While experts have long suspected media multitasking was distracting, Drs. S. Adam Brasel and James Gips of the Carroll School of Management used advanced cameras to track where research subjects were looking to understand the physical demands and likely disruption caused by switching between the television and computer.

“We thought it was going to be high, but the frequency of switching and amount of distraction going on was really shocking,” said Brasel.

Tellingly, individuals were not aware of their own actions. Participants in the study thought they might have looked back and forth between the two devices about 15 times per half hour. In reality, they were looking nearly 10 times as often.

And even if quick “glances” less than 1.5 seconds are removed from the equation, people were still switching over 70 times per half hour.

“What we found is that when people try to pay attention to multiple media simultaneously they are switching back and forth at an astounding rate,” said Brasel. “We’re not even aware of what we are doing when in multimedia environments.”

Study participants who thought they were only looking at the computer during TV commercials, or said they thought they were watching TV while web pages were loading, were actually behaving much differently.

The findings are meaningful as surveys show that 59 percent of Americans say they now use their computer and television at the same time. In addition, youths under 18 report this type of media multitasking is now the dominant mode in which they use both devices.

Researchers determined that when it comes to the dominant medium in this side-by-side challenge, the computer comes out the winner, drawing the attention of the study participants 68.4 percent of the time.

But neither device proved capable of holding the attention of study participants for very long, regardless of their age.

Researchers said the study raises the question about the level of comprehension among people who switch their eyes between the devices, specifically the impact on productivity or on children doing their homework.

The study will be reported in a forthcoming edition of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Source:Boston College

Related News Articles
-->Related Clinical Articles
-->

Advocacy and Policy, Anxiety, General, Health-related, LifeHelper, Professional, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Research, Stress, Students, Technology -->

NewsAddictionADHDAdvocacy and PolicyAggression and ViolenceAgingAgoraphobiaAlcoholismAlzheimer'sAnorexiaAnxietyAutismBipolarBlogrollBrain and BehaviorBulimiaChildren and TeensDepressionDissociationDomestic ViolenceEating DisordersFDA AlertFeaturedGeneralGeneticsHealth-relatedLifeHelperMedicationsMemory and PerceptionMental Health and WellnessNeuropsychology and NeurologyOCDpainPanic DisorderParentingParkinson'sPersonalityPhobiasPoliticsProfessionalPsoriasisPsychologyPsychotherapyPTSDRelationships and SexualityResearchSchizophreniaSleepSocial PhobiaStressStudentsSubstance AbuseSuicideTechnologyWork and Career

ArchivesMay 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010200820072006Older News Stumble This Article Print Email From Our News BureauPossible Brain Biomarkers for Bipolar Disorder Secondhand Smoke Delivers Nicotine to the Brain Women with Mood Disorders More Prone to Osteoporosis
Just Published...Psych Central Roundup: The Death of Osama bin LadenIs Stress Consuming You? Here’s What to DoSo, You Can’t Afford a Chi-Chi Treatment Center…That’s No... 9 Ideas for Increasing Your Chances of Matching
What's HotOsama Bin Laden is Dead: A Mindful ResponseadvertisementMost Popular NewsPossible Brain Biomarkers for Bipolar Disorder Women with Mood Disorders More Prone to Osteoporosis Remembering Happy Days Helps Future Happiness Secondhand Smoke Delivers Nicotine to the Brain Deaths from Rx Pain Meds Surpass Heroin, Cocaine Young People Think They're Healthier Than They Are Gender Discrimination in the Workplace Teen Brains More Susceptible to Pervasive Anxiety Two Antidepressants Appear No Better Than One Most Popular Blog PostsPsych Central Roundup: The Death of Osama bin Laden 6 Reasons Why It's Good to Be a Loser Do We Become What We Hope We'll Become? 6 Difficult Types of People and How to Deal With Them Two Important Lessons from My Much Procrastinated Trip to the Dentist Harming Your Child by Making Him Your Parent 12 Steps to Break Your Addiction to a Person Does Semen Make Women Happy? Cannabis as an Anti-Depressant? Wyeth's Dr. Phil Ninan on Pristiq Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

advertisement
Find a Therapist

Users Online: 3475
Join Us Now!
Local GuidesAll Guides
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Need to chat with someone now? Live therapists are available 24/7 to chat online--> #footer { height:220px; } #foot-mid { margin:0 0 0 40px; } Home • About Us • Advertise with Us • Contact Us
Privacy Policy • Terms of Use • Site Map • Disclaimer/Disclosure • Feeds