Task-Switching Experiment (2015)
Multitasking involves performing multiple tasks simultaneously or by switching rapidly. Research suggests women may excel in multitasking. An experiment assesses performance through a cued task-switching paradigm, collecting response data.
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Multitasking is defined as performing multiple tasks simultaneously, sequentially, or by rapidly switching between tasks. Examples include driving while talking on the phone or preparing a meal. The concept is explored through experiments comparing single-task performance to multitasking, particularly in a cued task-switching paradigm. Research by Stoet et al. (2013) suggests that women may excel at switching between tasks compared to men. The implementation of this experiment involves participants responding to different shapes and colors while managing task-switching, with a focus on accuracy and response time. The experiment is designed to be challenging, requiring participants to remember rules for two tasks and switch between them frequently. Data from the experiment is recorded in a text file, detailing various metrics such as task type, response accuracy, and timing. Participants can run a demo of the task-switching paradigm, which takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The study aims to provide insights into cognitive performance in multitasking scenarios.
- Multitasking can involve simultaneous, sequential, or rapid task switching.
- Research indicates women may perform better than men in multitasking scenarios.
- The experiment uses a cued task-switching paradigm to assess performance.
- Data collected includes response accuracy and timing for analysis.
- Participants can engage in a demo to experience the task-switching challenge.
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- Participants express concerns about potential biases in the experiment due to fixed task order and fatigue.
- Many users note that repeated testing can lead to improved performance as they become familiar with the tasks.
- There is a recognition that real-world multitasking often involves different sensory inputs, contrasting with the experiment's design.
- Some commenters share their personal experiences with multitasking in professional settings, highlighting the challenges of context switching.
- Overall, there is a general interest in the experiment and its implications for understanding multitasking abilities.
10 commentsI noticed that my performance significantly dropped towards the end because my brain was just fried.
(Also, who else did the test while task-switching to HN while waiting for something to finish?)
It should be noted that research in this domain is usually done with multi-sensory tasks (e.g https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31277054/), and not same channel input like this experiment. It better balances the cognitive load and it's also more realistic, as most people multi-tasking will be using different resources, for instance filling a form while on the phone, or sitting a team meeting while releasing in production.
Not necessarily with Dissociative Identity Disorder! (Or dissociative disorders in general)
I've been trying to eliminate multi-tasking as much as I can, but the nature of startups day-to-day and even what seems like a single/monotask when zoomed out now often involves context switching (For say, investigating and fixing a user-reported bug, I might have to toggle between VSCode, localhost in browser + the DOM inspector or console, our bug tracker, our support ticketing tool, Slack, and sometimes the Cody window in VS Code/ChatGPT/Claude:
RT in pure trials: 448ms
RT in mixed trials: 710ms
Mixing cost: 262ms
RT in task-repeat trials (in mixed blocks): 710ms
RT in task-switching trials (in mixed blocks): 975ms
Task-switch cost: 265ms RT in pure trials: 511ms
RT in mixed trials: 804ms
Mixing cost: 293ms
RT in task-repeat trials (in mixed blocks): 804ms
RT in task-switching trials (in mixed blocks): 1026ms
Task-switch cost: 222ms
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