Does Multitasking Take More Time?

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Introduction

In this fast-forwarding world, it is essentially important for one to manage time and do tasks simultaneously to manage the workload. Task achievement is the first thing one should aim for. Completing the task efficiently makes the results brighter. Quality and time given to the task performed is also important outcome for one to multitask and give their best. Thus, it can be concluded that task achievement and management of time is vital for everyone to complete the assigned task. Looking at the broad perspective further, it is discussed in the ensuing paragraphs.

Initials researches have stated the difficulty of performing several tasks synchronously (Rogers & Monsell, 1995). Doing more than one work at a time and maintaining overall attention to both tasks is something challenging for human beings. Multitasking while studying gives them more stress and takes more effort for one to remember and recall things at the same moment Lifestyle as of this is more prone to increase efficiency; however, there are limitations to how arranged multiple tasks can be carried out simultaneously (Posner, 1982). Cognitive resources have more demands while multitasking, which, as a result reduces overall performance, also, performance on each sequential task (Broadbent, 1958). When focused on a sequential task, our attention is much more towards the one task and is not disturbed by the other task, and this data is enough processed and stored in the memory very efficiently (Naveh-Benjamin, Craik, Perretta, & Tonev, 2000). Students should be more involved in studying through concepts and mental efforts and not messaging or doing online studies. Performing in-person and giving their best will uplift their futures. Hence when we study while multitasking and later if one retrieves the information one can see that, some amount of performance decrease is seen (Wickens & Hollands, 2010). Hence, completing and managing more than two tasks together take effort and need great attention towards it and there are not infinite numbers of attentional resources or references (Konig, Buhner, & Murling, 2005; Pashler, 1994). Multitasking can result in poor remembrance of initial information learned for long time memory (Bailey & Konstan,2006; Ophir, Nass, & Wagner, 2009).

Hence, attempting to complete two simple cognitive tasks simultaneously will take more time than completing the same two tasks sequentially.

Participants

Approximately 1,331 students were involved in the activity of psychology. Out of these 664 pupils were involved in multitasking and the rest that is 667 were involved in serial wise that is sequential activity. Hence, there was a huge amount of people who participated in this activity.

Material

Chits of paper were provided to the students and according to that, they had to perform certain tasks. Students performed the task one by one and their performing times were recorded by their partners. Duals after jotting down the total time they submitted it to their TA’s. mobile phones were there with the children to record time and they had to check whether the opposite one is going in correct order or not.

Procedure

Approximately 20 students were present in one seminar. Students had to go to the seminar number in which they were assigned to. students were divided into pairs and were given one task to each one of them and the other one would have to note the time being taken by the opposite student. One pair had two students so one child had to perform task 1 and another child had to perform task 2. Out of the two one student was in control group and the opposite one was in experimental group. Considering, control group; they had to speak alphabets in order starting from A to Z and after that they had to count numbers from 1 to 26 individually. their times were recorded by his/her partner. Secondly, person with multiple tasks had to alphabets in order(A-Z) along with counting the number from 1 to 26 (simultaneously). The task for group one was simple and straight towards recollecting the simple series of alphabets and counting the series of numbers in their mind. Adding to this, experimental group had to count as well as had to recall the alphabets one by one without failing to recall the correct number and alphabet in sequence. While the one performs the task other one had to record time. After completing the allotted tasks, they to submit the recorded timings to their TA and the analysis was created or performed.

Results

The outcomes found here were that people while multitasking took an average of 73.12 seconds to complete the task. Which was quite more as compared to the students who were allotted single tasks. Single task students took average of 13.45 seconds. There was total of 667 people in control activity and 664 people in multitasking group. As this result can say that multitasking eventually takes a lot of time while a single task has more attention towards their task and are efficient towards their performance as compared to opposite category.

Discussion

According to the hypothesis, it can be said that it is clearly indicated that multitasking students will take or consume more time as compared to the pupils who perform sequentially. Students took significantly longer time to complete the task while counting the numbers along with recalling and speaking the correct alphabet orders. Despite, students are being made to learn alphabets from A-Z and number from 1-26 since their childhood still people faced some issues while recalling it because while thinking about the one part of the task one has to look at the consequent side also which leads in temporary memory loss or load on their memory to recollect all the information simultaneously.

This hypothesis is strongly relatable to this study as it clearly shows that multitasking is time-consuming also, needs more attention towards both of the tasks.Talking not only about counting numbers and alphabets but also, we can take the example of instant messaging. As mentioned earlier while instant messaging in class people tend to pay attention to text messages rather than studying and at last end up in scoring low marks as in contrast with the people who do solely pay attention to their studies. As it is said by Levine et al that given correlational research suggesting relations between media multitasking and academic distractibility (Levine et al.,2007). Educators must know the threats of multimedia while studies and should focus on multitasking as they might contribute to some mental issues or academic low scores while doing multiple tasks together. Supporting overall, it can be said that multitasking needs more brain exercise and needs brainstorming while they find the answers in their own minds. Multitaskers take more time while completing their works which hinders the progress of their result as well as the works which are associated with it. It makes them have more load in their minds and often makes them lose their patience or ability to take stress at the same time.

This research helps the general public a lot as it makes them think about the other alternatives to complete all their tasks one by one also, time management. These studies make government think upon providing resources or thinking about the alternatives to make children study well and also to help them cope up with their single works. People outside of this field will also care about this research as this research states the general issue and general findings which gives information to them about cognitive development. Additionally, it also gives the knowledge and idea about maintaining their time and work accordingly and spreads awareness amongst people about the losses and fears of multitasking.

There are some limitations to this study as we can say that we can’t stop people from using their mobiles or laptops in class because if we stop the usage of phones and laptops or tablets then how they take notes? How would the general public react to it? Hence one can say that changing the thoughts of people through conducted studies is something about difficult tasks.

Conclusion

Thus, in conclusion, it can be inferred that multitasking takes immense time while doing two tasks together rather than one task at a time, which will result in cognitive overload.

References

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