Multitasking refers to executing or dealing with more than one
task at the same time (usually a short period). An example can be chatting
while cooking dinner, typing an email during a meeting, reading a book while
listening to a favorite song or even texting while walking. It’s apparent that
doing one thing at a time in the contemporary world is downright luxurious and
wasteful. However, due to human context switching, multitasking can result in
time wastage as well as more errors due to insufficient attention. Several
studies have demonstrated that it’s impossible to focus on more than one task
at a particular time. However, if an individual is proficient at one of the
tasks they’re handling, then it might be possible to multitask. Personally,
I’ve grown up knowing that women can multitask better than men. This idea has
also been popularized not only in conventional thought but also in the media. However, when I looked into the matter, I
found out that there was very little data available to support these claims.
Most studies that have found any sex differences in multitasking have found
that the differences are not only small but also inconsistent.
I don’t think I’m so good at multitasking like some of my friends.
The reason for this is that there are tasks that I can’t just handle
simultaneously. For me, it might be simple to chat while walking or even
receive a call while driving but I can’t read and understand a sentence when my
favorite song is playing. I also noticed listening to music and eating or
drinking beverages is simple while driving. This is probably because walking
and eating are routine tasks that I perform on a daily basis. When I tried to
put my ability to multitask on a test by carrying out the activity on page 139,
I proved my suspicions were right. I first read pages 141 and 142 in silence
and with full attention. I realized I could easily remember and write down on
paper most of the relevant texts I read from the two pages without looking up
for more words. I later resumed to reading pages 143 and 144 while playing my
favorite music group. I realized reading the texts was more difficult, and I
ended up rereading sentences because I could hardly concentrate. When it came
down to writing on the piece of paper, I could not even construct full
sentences. In a nutshell, I grasped less key points, fewer research findings,
fewer definitions and fewer concepts on page 143 and 144 than on pages 141and
142.Attention is essential to hold information in working memory and move this
information to long-term memory thus learning (Wickens and McCarley). Therefore,
since my attention was divided when I played music, I could not exercise
focused awareness. Neither could I learn.
As I mentioned earlier, some tasks are easier to multitask than others. It’s easier to multitask when doing a routine task and especially when doing it simultaneously with a mental task that is not demanding such as watching or listening. Driving usually needs us to coordinate lots of different information at once. For instance, we have to judge the distance accurately, watch the road, abide by the traffic laws, speed of other objects, etc. While driving, never chat on the phone, get distracted by kids, doze off, get distracted by the radio, dressing or undressing, or use social media. Also, surfing the web, watching television, listening to music, using email, instant messaging, talking on phone and social sites like Facebook are very destructive when it comes to reading. This is mainly because the lapses of attention and aspects of situation awareness are closely related and therefore losing attention would be destructive (Wickens and McCarley).
Reply 1
There’s some truth in defining multitasking as switching back and
forth between two or multiple tasks very rapidly. However, to me, this is just
a description of your first sentence that you just disapproved. Indeed,
multitasking is performing two or more tasks at the same time. This is true
even according to my research. In reference to my first piece, I wrote that
doing one thing at a time in the modern world is considered downright luxurious
and wasteful. There’ so much work in college and this is perhaps why you
mentioned that college has given you instances to perfect the “skill†of
multitasking. The problem, however, is that you might not be as effective in
multitasking as you think. The reason for this, according to my research is
that multitasking can result in many errors and time wastage due to
insufficient attention. Human context switching can, therefore, be rendered
ineffective. Moreover, several studies have shown that it’s impossible to focus
on more than one task at a particular time.
I also noticed that you mentioned that you engage in
conversations, eat or drink when driving. I would say this kind of multitasking
is significantly influenced by your proficiency in performing these daily
tasks. Earlier on, I wrote that it might be possible to multitask if you are
proficient at one of the tasks you’re handling. Obviously, eating, drinking and
talking are some of these daily or routine tasks that we do on a daily basis.
Since you’re a music major and you’ve made listening to music a routine,
reading while listening to music does not destruct you as much as it destructs
me.
Reply 2: Aisha Johnson
It’s true to say that there’s no big issue with multi-tasking as
long as it doesn’t endanger anyone’s life. Second, I would concur with you that
we have to concentrate on one task at hand at a time so as to work optimally
and achieve the best results. Indeed, focused awareness allows us to perform
our best when performing tasks that require undivided attention. For instance,
driving requires fixed attention. Therefore, distractions while driving might
perhaps result in a road accident. Hence
it’s logic to say that it’s not advisable to multitask while driving because
not only is the driver risking his or her life but the passengers are also in
danger.
I also agree that multitasking can lead to divided consciousness
which leads to lack of efficacy since one activity will demand more attention
than the other. This is why I could also barely concentrate when I tried
listening to music while reading the book while I performed best when it was
quiet. Just like you, my brain is more focused and relaxed when nothing can
interfere with my studying. Perhaps if listening to music was a routine thing
to me, it would have been easier. I also do open tabs on a computer when
researching while typing answers on Microsoft word or notepad. Most probably,
this switching on and off on the computer is easier to me because I often spend
much time on my computer, mostly when doing assignments. I would say we’re
pretty much sailing on the same boat.
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