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The Roles of Media Multitasking and Technology Use in Selective Attention and Task Switching

A number of studies have explored the impact of multitasking on specific cognitive skills, primarily with regard to non-media multitasking activities. While briefly addressing technology, its use in the modern era regarding media multitasking and its associated cognitive declines has not been extensively examined. Forty-nine participants were required to complete a series of cognitive tasks including the Stroop Color and Word Test and the Trail Making Test. Data were also collected for how often participants media multitask, the amount of technology they use, as well as other demographic variables. The goal of this study was to empirically examine the role of technology use and media multitasking on cognitive processes such as selective attention and task switching. It was hypothesized that those grouped as high media-multitaskers would predict a faster reaction time on the Stroop task, in line with previous literature by Cain & Mitroff (2011). Results showed a significant relationship exhibiting a negative correlation between the two factors, thereby accepting the hypothesis. Findings conclude with considerations for both the use and design of technological interfaces and devices as they apply to a variety of operational settings and high-tech environments.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:honorstheses-2547
Date01 January 2023
CreatorsChris, Katina
PublisherSTARS
Source SetsUniversity of Central Florida
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceHonors Undergraduate Theses

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