<p>One important factor to consider is whether the separate tasks involve the same kind of mental process. For instance, among these multi-tasking scenarios:</p>

<ol>
<li><code>listen to someone</code> and <code>read something at the same time</code></li>
<li><code>listen to someone</code> and <code>walk</code></li>
<li><code>walk</code> and <code>read something at the same time</code></li>
</ol>

<p>$\#1$ is generally harder than $\#2$, partly because both of its tasks involve linguistic processing, whereas walking does not. </p>

<p>$\#2$ might be a somewhat unfair example at first glance, because walking is also more self-contained and automatic on flat ground. On uneven ground, however, $\#3$ would be much harder than $\#2$, because both walking and reading require visual processing in such circumstances. This point implicates automaticity and difficulty as (probably related) influential factors as well. I'm sure there are others, and I hope others will help fill in other ideas.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-15T05:46:00.070Z
2014-01-15T05:46:00.070Z
Nick Stauner
<p>Multi-tasking lowers productivity.</p>

<p><strong>What influences on attention cause the productivity of a multi-tasking person to be low?</strong></p>

<p>An example of multi-tasking is that a person is working on his assignment while trying to memorize unfamilar Spanish words.  </p>

<cognitive-psychology><performance><attention>
How is attention involved with the performance drop associated with multi-tasking?
abc
# How is attention involved with the performance drop associated with multi-tasking?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-13)

Multi-tasking lowers productivity.

**What influences on attention cause the productivity of a multi-tasking person to be low?**

An example of multi-tasking is that a person is working on his assignment while trying to memorize unfamilar Spanish words.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, performance, attention


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-15. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

One important factor to consider is whether the separate tasks involve the same kind of mental process. For instance, among these multi-tasking scenarios:

1. `listen to someone` and `read something at the same time`
2. `listen to someone` and `walk`
3. `walk` and `read something at the same time`

$\#1$ is generally harder than $\#2$, partly because both of its tasks involve linguistic processing, whereas walking does not.

$\#2$ might be a somewhat unfair example at first glance, because walking is also more self-contained and automatic on flat ground. On uneven ground, however, $\#3$ would be much harder than $\#2$, because both walking and reading require visual processing in such circumstances. This point implicates automaticity and difficulty as (probably related) influential factors as well. I'm sure there are others, and I hope others will help fill in other ideas.


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