Title
Patterns of multitasking behaviours of adolescents in digital environments
Abstract
The centrality of multitasking in teenagers’ lives has triggered vast interest in popular and academic discussion. Due to a large inconsistency in the study and multitasking reporting, we endeavoured to better understand and characterize multitasking behaviors. We researched multitasking patterns, prevalence, types, combinations and gender differences of adolescents using observations, in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The results showed a large variety of multitasking prevalence and types that we categorized as simultaneous multitasking and task switching. Most of the observed multitasking was actually task switching with a higher frequency of multitasking during leisure than during study time. An interesting finding is a connection between the natures of tasks: passive, active or incidental and the multitasking type. We demonstrated that most multitasking involved combinations of music, texting or activities on social networks, but seldom combining video games. Gender differences in multitasking were also observed, especially with regard to the nature of the task combinations.
Year
DOI
Venue
2020
10.1007/s10639-019-09982-4
Education and Information Technologies
Keywords
Field
DocType
Multitasking, Task switching, Adolescent behavior, Digital technology, Attention
Social network,Computer science,Task switching,Cognitive psychology,Knowledge management,Centrality,Human multitasking
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
25
1
1360-2357
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
0
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Karen Ettinger100.34
Anat Cohen222.05