Individual Difference Variables as Predictors of Error during Multitasking

Individual Differences in Multitasking Ability and Adaptability

“…This finding suggests that the effect of baseline performance (multitasking ability) decreased as the task became harder. Second, scholastic aptitude and working memory predicted baseline performance, as expected on the basis of prior work (Bühner et al, 2006;Hambrick et al, 2009;Oberlander et al, 2007;Rubinstein et al, 2001). However, the impact of these measures was somewhat reduced (although not necessarily zero) with regard to performance in the more difficult conditions (adaptability).…”

“…There have been some attempts to identify the individual differences associated with multitasking performance. For example, differences in perceptual speed (Oberlander, Oswald, Hambrick, & Jones, 2007), motivation (Oswald, Hambrick, & Jones, 2007), and neuroticism (Oswald, Hambrick, & Jones, 2007; Poposki, Oswald, & Chen, 2008) have been linked to multitasking effectiveness. That said, when a person decides to engage in multitasking, the critical predictor of performance appears to be working memory and executive control, ostensibly because multitasking requires the individual to maintain representations of different tasks in working memory and strategically deploy attentional resources to effectively switch between these tasks (e.g., Bühner et al, 2006; Hambrick, Oswald, Darowski, Rench, & Brou, 2009; Oberlander et al, 2007; Rubinstein, Meyer, & Evans, 2001).…”

Thinking at work: Intelligence, critical thinking, job knowledge, and reasoning.

“…For instance, multiple studies (Bühner, König, Pick, & Krumm, 2006;Hambrick, Oswald, Darowski, Rench, & Brou, 2010;Hambrick et al, 2011;König, Bühner, & Mürling, 2005) have all reported that WMC was more related to performance on computer-based multitasking performance than was fluid intelligence and reasoning. Additionally, Oberlander, Oswald, Hambrick, and Jones (2007) found that WMC as measured by complex span tasks was negatively related to errors of commission (i.e., performing an incorrect action) when performing a multitasking simulation. Given that an element of multitasking is inherent in most operationalizations of WMC, these results are perhaps to be expected.…”

Performance-Based Adaptability Profiles in Multitasking

“…However, these reductions are not the same for everyone (Watson and Strayer, 2010), and multitasking ability has been associated with various cognitive individual differences measures (IDMs), especially executive functions such as working memory (Hambrick, Oswald, Darowski, Rench, & Brou, 2010;Oberlander, Hambrick, Oswald, & Jones, 2007;Rubinstein, Meyer, & Evans, 2001).…”

“…Despite its prevalence, performing multiple tasks simultaneously is more challenging than doing a single task (Monsell, 2003;Sauer, Wastell, & Hockey, 1999), and overall performance can be negatively affected when the demands of one task interfere with those of another (Altmann & Gray, 2008;Monsell, 2003). However, these reductions are not the same for everyone (Watson and Strayer, 2010), and multitasking ability has been associated with various cognitive individual differences measures (IDMs), especially executive functions such as working memory (Hambrick, Oswald, Darowski, Rench, & Brou, 2010;Oberlander, Hambrick, Oswald, & Jones, 2007;Rubinstein, Meyer, & Evans, 2001).…”