Abstract
The centrality of multitasking in teenagers’ lives has triggered vast interest in popular and academic discussion. Due to a large inconsistency in the study and multitasking reporting, we endeavoured to better understand and characterize multitasking behaviors. We researched multitasking patterns, prevalence, types, combinations and gender differences of adolescents using observations, in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The results showed a large variety of multitasking prevalence and types that we categorized as simultaneous multitasking and task switching. Most of the observed multitasking was actually task switching with a higher frequency of multitasking during leisure than during study time. An interesting finding is a connection between the natures of tasks: passive, active or incidental and the multitasking type. We demonstrated that most multitasking involved combinations of music, texting or activities on social networks, but seldom combining video games. Gender differences in multitasking were also observed, especially with regard to the nature of the task combinations.
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Appendices
Appendix 1
1.1 Observation Table
Name of the Subject _______________ Age ________ Session goal – Leisure / Study
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Appendix 2 – Interview Questions
1.1 The observation session
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What was the main goal of the session?
Study
Leisure
Other (not study) ________
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How much multitasking do you think you did during the observation session?
Very much
A lot
A little
None
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What tasks are easier to combine with others?
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What is easier to multitask with – surfing or texting?
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What is easier to multitask with – reading Facebook posts or playing computer games?
1.2 Examples of specific questions
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During the observation I noticed that when you were doing X you didn’t do Y.
Were you aware of this?
If so, why did you do this?
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I noticed that you did X, why did you do this?
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During the observation session you multitasked during X minutes combining Y (number) of tasks, such as Facebook, YouTube, online shopping site and WhatsApp.
Did you notice this?
Did it distract you?
Do you do multitasks like this on other occasions?
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In which situations do you multitask with music?
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When do you only perform single tasks?
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During the session you stopped doing your main task X when Y occurred.
Did you remember what you were doing on the main task?
1.3 General questions about multitasking
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Are there benefits to performing different tasks at the same time? If so – what are they?
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Does it cause damage to perform different tasks at the same time? If so – what damage does it cause?
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Is it always effective to multitask?
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Do you like to multitask?
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Which tasks do you commonly combine?
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Which tasks do you prefer not to combine?
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Ettinger, K., Cohen, A. Patterns of multitasking behaviours of adolescents in digital environments. Educ Inf Technol 25, 623–645 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09982-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09982-4