A Comparative Analysis of Multitasking

13 participants were selected to determine the values of 4 conditions namely single condition, dual condition, sequential condition and task-switching condition. Using the same participants, the experiment was replicated three times and the average and standard deviation of each condition calculated. According to (2013), state that the more tasks are added, the more time required.

The first condition, Single Condition had an overall average of 10.897 and a standard deviation of 0.7382. the Dual condition had an overall average of 11.69 with a standard deviation of 0.887. the sequential condition had an overall average of 18.28 and a standard deviation of 0.363 and the last condition, task-switching condition had an average of 31.10 with a standard deviation of 3.10.

Side by side comparison

The data collected from the four condition can be categorized side by side, using both bar graph and line graph. The bar is useful to show all of the three trials whereas the line graph displays the averages of all the data.

Evidently, the bar graph shows that Task-Switching condition took more time than the rest of the condition, whereas the single condition took the least amount of time. The rest fall in between and there were consistencies across the three trials.

The line graph of the conditions displayed another interesting aspect which cannot be visible in the bar chart.

As displayed by the bar graph, the task-switching condition took the longest time than the rest. However, there magnitude fluctuation of the task-switching condition is higher than the reset meaning that it had a higher standard deviation.

Difference between the conditions

The difference between the single and dual condition is 10.90 – 11.69 = - 0.79. the difference between the mean of single and sequential condition is -7.38. the difference between the dual and the sequential condition is -6.59. The difference between the single and switching condition is -20.2. the difference between the dual and the switching condition is -19.41.

Plot the averages of the data from each condition

Based on the bar chart displayed above, the time it takes when the task-switching condition is used is more than the rest of the condition, with an average time of 31.103. However, the single condition uses the less time when used, with an average time of 10.90 seconds.

The experiment was set up into four ways so as to track the amount of time taken in accomplishing the tasks. Each of the tasks was repeated three times so as to calculate the average time taken.

In single condition, the participants were told to write numbers 1 up to 20 in word form. The duration of the time it takes to complete the task was recorded.

In dual condition, there were two set of tasks conducted concurrently. The participants were asked to write the number one to twenty in words whereas at the same time, speak “I am a great multitasker.” These were two tasks of writing and speaking out the words.

The participants will start writing on the first two lines of the data collection. They will start writing he words I am a great multitasker, and then goes to the second lines to write the numbers

In the fourth task, the participants will write only the the words ”I am a great multitasker”, the number 1-20 and then on the leter or number of data. Each letter will be written once before going to the next task and keep on switching what they referred to as multitasking.

Analysis of the data

To determine whether there was a significant difference between multitasking tasks and the single condition, a t-test will be used since it is suitable in this condition. The t-test will be computed for each pair of the tasks and the findings discussed.

i. Single vs dual condition

The null hypothesis of the t-test is to determine whether there is a statistical significant difference between the single condition and the dual condition. The alternative hypothesis will state that there is no difference. A 95% significant level will be used to test the condition.

According to the output, t (38) = -3.875, p-value = 0.0004. Since the p-value is lower than the alpha level of significance, 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a statistical significant difference between single condition and dual condition, with a paired difference of -0.7949 seconds and a standard deviation of 1.2810.

ii. Single Vs. Sequential

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between the single and sequential condition whereas the alternative hypothesis state that there a difference. A 95% confidence interval will be used to test the statistical difference between the two conditions.

According to the output, t (38) = -29.763, p = 0.0001. since the p-value is less than the alpha level of significance, then we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a statistical difference between the single and the sequential condition, and the paired mean difference is -7.3846.

iii. Single Vs. Task-Switching

The null hypothesis state that there is no difference between the single condition and the task switching condition. The alternative hypothesis state that there is a difference. The level of significance is 95%.

The paired sample t-test results state that t (38) = -27.668, and the associated p-value is 0.0001. since the p-value is less than the level of significance, we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a statistical significance difference the single condition and the task-switching condition, with a mean paired difference of -20.2051 seconds.

iv. Sequential Vs. Task-Switching

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between the sequential and task-switching, whereas the alternative hypothesis state that there is a difference between them. The level of significance used is 95%.

The results of the paired sample t-test were t (38) = -15.688, p = 0.0001. since the p-value is less than the alpha level, then the null hypothesis is rejected and conclude that there is a statistical significant difference between sequential and task-switching sequence, and the mean paired difference is -12.8205.

v. Sequential vs Dual

The null hypothesis to be tested is that there is no difference between the sequential procedure and dual procedure. The alternative hypothesis states that there is a difference between them. The level of significance of the test is 95%

The results of the paired sample t-test showed that t (38) = 21.331, with a p-value of 0.0001. Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a statistical difference between the sequential procedure and the dual procedure, with a mean paired difference of 6.5897.

vi. Dual Vs. Task Switching

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between the dual condition and the task-switching whereas the alternative hypothesis states that there is a difference between the two conditions. The level of significance used in the study was 95%.

The results of the paired sample showed that t (38) = 28.709, p = 0.0001. since the p-value is less than 0.05, we reject the p-value and conclude that there is a statistical difference between the dual procedure and the task-switching procedure.

Conclusion

Based on the results from the analysis, it is true that that the condition of doing a task determines the time taken to complete the task. When there are only one tasks, the concentration is only on that particular task. However, when there is another task to conduct concurrently with the fist tasks, such as speaking out the words. It takes more time to accomplish the original task.  As the amount of tasks are added, there is a decrease of the amount of time taken to complete the task.

References

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Crenshaw, D. (2013). The myth of multitasking: How ”doing it all” gets nothing done. San Francisco, Caliph: Jossey-Bass.

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Curtis, Keith E. (2011). Embedded Multitasking. Newnes.

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