R10

Question: Is multitasking a necessary skill that we have developed in response to increased demands in society, and if so, how can we structure multitasking to allow us to be more successful in today’s demands in the work environment while at the same time not minimizing our ability to think critically and process new information?

Quotation: “For the younger generation of multitaskers, the great electronic din is an expected part of everyday life. And given what neuroscience and anecdotal evidence have shown us, this state of constant intentional self-distraction could well be of profound detriment to individual and cultural well-being” (Rosen, 2008, p. 110).

Connection: In the age of e-mail, social media, smart phones and iPads, our generation has been continuously pressed to maintain a constant flow of information from multiple devices and technology aids.  This increased demand has lead to what Rosen has called the “hurry, bustle, and agitation” of everyday life.  The evidence presented by Rosen in her article raised some serious concerns about how we have come to manage the many demands placed on us both in the workplace and in society.  Given the fast-paced world we live in today and the multitude of information available at our fingertips, I would argue that it has become a necessary skill developed to meet these many demands.  Our brain has adapted to these demands in the only way that it knows how - through the process of multitasking.  Fortunately, not all of the current evidence is negative.  Rosen cites work completed by Meyer, who believes that our brain may be able to learn how to switch tasks effectively for more simple tasks.  Through my own personal experiences, I have found multitasking to be something I excel at when completing tasks that do not require excessive concentration.  However, I agree that multitasking should not occur during meaningful tasks in which you are trying to learn new information. 

Outside Connection: Rosen’s article also allowed me to reflect on previous advice provided to me by professors who have utilized a specific “diet” of multitasking that would supposedly allow for the distribution of certain times in which multitasking is preferable.  One such advice incorporated the idea of scheduling certain times to multitask so as to permit certain breaks throughout the workday in which multitasking may occur.  For example, setting self-determined goals in which you must work on a certain task (e.g., paper, report, presentation) for a specified amount of time.  Once that time is finished, you can then allow your brain to switch to a different task such as email, phone calls, etc.  His philosophy was that by setting certain criteria for yourself before accessing a preferred activity, you were more likely to successfully accomplish the less-preferred task (i.e., the Premack Principle; I’m sure you aren’t surprised to hear that he prescribed to behaviorist philosophy).

I found the following video to be another interesting perspective. It describes a study completed on multitasking with college students.  The end result found that we are basically “bad at multitasking.” Perhaps if I complete their test, I may find that I am not as good at multitasking as I once thought!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zuDXzVYZ68&feature=related