INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN MULTI-TASKING
While there have been many studies that have examined the cognitive processes involved with performance when task switching and the resulting switch costs, scientists have paid little attention to the effect of individual differences such as gender, on the deficits in performance produced by multitasking and as a consequence, the empirical evidence for a causal relationship between gender and performance is sparse.
This research is important in understanding how gender can influence performance, which may have particular relevance for the workplace. Decisions in the workplace are affected by gender bias (Koch, A. J 2015). How workplaces are organised has changed dramatically over recent years and …show more content…
Under strict controlled lab conditions and using the cognitive paradigms of Eriksen Flanker Task and the Go/No Go task, gender differences in the cognitive control process were investigated. The data showed that men performed less well in cognitive tests when there was a requirement to coordinate a primary test with a secondary test. Conversely, women’s performance actually improved with the introduction of the second test. It is suggested that cognitive control is influencing the observed gender-specific pattern when multitasking.
In 2013, Stoet completed a study testing the multi-tasking performance of women in comparison to men using both computer-based and pencil-and-paper multitasking tests and again previous studies’ findings were upheld; a significantly larger slow-down was observed in men on the computer based tests. However, results were less defined on the pencil and paper tasks.
Therefore based on previous research, if the speculation about the evolutionary impact on the gap between gender when multitasking is the case; it should follow that participant’s gender will have an influence on performance accuracy in the task switching …show more content…
A correlation was also performed to test for any significant association between response time and accuracy during the single test condition. Gender was the IV and response time and accuracy were the DV. Response times were measured in milliseconds. The number of trials for the single task condition (AAAAAAAAAA or BBBBBBBBB) was 80. There were 60 trials involving a task switch (AABBAABBAABB). Participant’s response time and accuracy were recorded as they responded, using either a Z or M keypress. No controls were made for any potential confounding non-cognitive variables such as; age, personality, levels of anxiety or
While there have been many studies that have examined the cognitive processes involved with performance when task switching and the resulting switch costs, scientists have paid little attention to the effect of individual differences such as gender, on the deficits in performance produced by multitasking and as a consequence, the empirical evidence for a causal relationship between gender and performance is sparse.
This research is important in understanding how gender can influence performance, which may have particular relevance for the workplace. Decisions in the workplace are affected by gender bias (Koch, A. J 2015). How workplaces are organised has changed dramatically over recent years and …show more content…
Under strict controlled lab conditions and using the cognitive paradigms of Eriksen Flanker Task and the Go/No Go task, gender differences in the cognitive control process were investigated. The data showed that men performed less well in cognitive tests when there was a requirement to coordinate a primary test with a secondary test. Conversely, women’s performance actually improved with the introduction of the second test. It is suggested that cognitive control is influencing the observed gender-specific pattern when multitasking.
In 2013, Stoet completed a study testing the multi-tasking performance of women in comparison to men using both computer-based and pencil-and-paper multitasking tests and again previous studies’ findings were upheld; a significantly larger slow-down was observed in men on the computer based tests. However, results were less defined on the pencil and paper tasks.
Therefore based on previous research, if the speculation about the evolutionary impact on the gap between gender when multitasking is the case; it should follow that participant’s gender will have an influence on performance accuracy in the task switching …show more content…
A correlation was also performed to test for any significant association between response time and accuracy during the single test condition. Gender was the IV and response time and accuracy were the DV. Response times were measured in milliseconds. The number of trials for the single task condition (AAAAAAAAAA or BBBBBBBBB) was 80. There were 60 trials involving a task switch (AABBAABBAABB). Participant’s response time and accuracy were recorded as they responded, using either a Z or M keypress. No controls were made for any potential confounding non-cognitive variables such as; age, personality, levels of anxiety or