Seddon, AL, Law, AS, Adams, AM and Simmons, FR (2021) Individual differences in media multitasking ability: the importance of cognitive flexibility. Computers in Human Behavior Reports. ISSN 2451-9588

Preview

Text Individual differences in media multitasking ability the importance of cognitive flexibility.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (405kB) | Preview

Abstract

Previous research on media multitasking has often focussed on the frequency with which people perform this type of behaviour. Heavy media multitaskers have been found to differ from light media multitaskers in their performance of tasks involving executive functioning (although these differences have not always been found consistently). The aim of the present study was to explore individuals’ executive functioning in relation to their ability to media multitask (i.e., their ability to retain information presented during the session), rather than their propensity to media multitask. Participants (N= 116, aged 18-25, male N= 32) completed an executive function task battery, inclusive of working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility tasks, followed by a studious media multitasking situation. Individual executive function task performance scores were correlated with media multitasking ability scores. Greater cognitive flexibility was significantly associated with greater ability to media multitask, in terms of retention of information from a media multitasking situation. Furthermore, media multitasking influenced mood, reducing levels of self-reported arousal. Thus, the present study provides some elucidation as to what cognitive characteristics are involved in being able to media multitask, whilst also indicating a possible cognitive mechanism for negative associations found between media multitasking and academic performance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Media multitasking; Inhibition; Working memory; Cognitive flexibility
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date Deposited:	18 Feb 2021 12:08
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 05:54
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100068
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14485

View Item