multitasking Flashcards
Multitasking
Dual task performance
Multitasking corresponds to our ability to perform or coordinate the completion of two or more tasks at the same time to achieve an overall goal
Serial processing
Switching attention backwards and forwards between two tasks with only one task being processed at any given moment
Parallel processing
Processing both tasks at the same time
Danger associated with multitasking in real life
Probability of missing traffic signals was more than double when participants having a conversation on phone
Participants in cell phone group much slower than the control group of radio
Single channel model
Sensory information comes through the system until it reaches a bottle neck
Only one task can be performed
Second task must wait for the end of the first task
Psychological refractory period effect
Two stimuli and two responses, one associated with each stimulus - participants have to respond as fast as possible
When second stimulus is presented shortly after the first there’s a slowing of the response to the second stimulus
You can only process the second stimulus when the first one is finished processing
General resource theory
One single pool of attentional resources can be divided freely between tasks
We can perform multitasking without cost if they do not exceed the available attentional resource
Available capacity
The quantity of attentional resource available is determined by the level of arousal
Allocation policy
The system that selects the activities that will be conducted based on the importance of the tasks
Evaluation of the demands
System that causes capacity or attention resource to be supplied as needed by the activities that the allocation policy has selected
Factors that can affect resource management
Available capacity
Evaluations of the demand
Available capactity
Many factors can affect the level of available capacity like anxiety, fear, or drugs
Evaluations of the demands
If the resource is insufficient the system will have to increase the level of available resources to meet the demands of the tasks
If unable to meet the demands of the tasks performance will decrease
Pupilometry
Pupils can dilate in response to increased cognitive activity
Pupil size of an individual should increase with the difficulty of the task
Parasympathetic nervous system
Causes pupil to constrict
Sympathetic nervous system
Causes pupil to dilate
Multiple resources theory
We can multitask if two tasks use different levels along each of the three dimensions - perception, cognition, responding
Perception
System that receives input of our environment
Cognition
System that executes all mental processing of information
Responding
System that exits the output or executes the responses
Processing codes
Cognitive processing can involve spatial or verbal information
Responding can involve vocal, verbal or manual spatial reponses
Modalities
Perception can involve casual or auditory information
Perception and cognitive processing examples - visual verbal
Letter search task
Perception and cognitive processing examples - auditory spatial
Sound location task
Dual task procedure - McLeod (1977)
In single task - response between the two groups are equivalent
In dual task - performance in manual visual task is drastically affected when participants performed the manual tone identification
Performance in the manual visual tracking task was not affected by the vocal tone identification
Automatization - automatic processes
Activation of a learned sequence of elements in long term memory
Initiated without appropriate inputs
Proceeds automatically
Automatization - controlled processes
Temporary activation of a sequence of elements that can be set up quickly and easily
Requires attention
Capacity limited
Controlled by the participants
Memorisation of letters experiment
Participants faster at detected if letter is present or absent in automatic processing condition (consistent placement)
Reaction time not affected by number of distractors
In controlled processing condition reaction time was affected by number of items to search
Four features associated with automaticity
Unconscious
Efficient
Fast
Goal unrelated
Acquisition of automatisation
Practice effect
Instance theory
Spelke, Hirst and Neisser
After practicing for six weeks, participants reading speed whilst performing two tasks was equivalent to reading speed of performing just the one task
