Exam performance and attitudes toward multitasking in six, multimedia–multitasking classroom environments

Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance

“…Repeated practice with the various technologies did not improve performance over time in any condition. Downs, Tran, McMenemy, and Abegaze (2015) manipulated the multitasking environment rather than the note-taking method, finding that participants performed worst on a post-lecture exam when distracted with social media. Two-hundred and four university students were randomly assigned to one of six classroom conditions: (1) Facebook distracted; (2) paper note-taking; (3) no media use control group; (4) mixed distraction; (5) laptop note-taking; and (6) distracted combination.…”

“…One important aspect for understanding multitasking while engaged in learning activities for class is the issue of students' beliefs and perceptions surrounding multitasking. In Downs et al (2015) study, participants completed a pre-test examining their perceptions of their multitasking abilities. The same questionnaire was administered following a multiple-choice exam.…”

Multitasking as distraction: A conceptual analysis of media multitasking research

“…Early studies in this category focused mostly on the use of cell phones and showed that texting during lectures causes significant impairments in academic performance (e.g., Dietz & Henrich, 2014; Ellis, Daniels, & Jauregui, 2010; Rosen, Lim, Carrier, & Cheever, 2011). Later studies have increasingly focused on the use of computers and laptops and have demonstrated that students engaging in media multitasking achieve lower test scores than those who do not (e.g., Downs, Tran, McMenemy, & Abegaze, 2015; Gupta & Irwin, 2016; Risko, Buchanan, Medimorec, & Kingstone, 2013; Sana, Weston, & Cepeda, 2013; Wood et al, 2012). Furthermore, media multitaskers’ laptop use poses a significant distraction to participants sitting in their near vicinity (Sana et al, 2013).…”

“…Sana et al (2013), for instance, asked participants in the media multitasking condition to watch a 45-min PowerPoint lecture on meteorology while answering questions like “What is on Channel 3 tonight at 10 pm?” (p. 26). Other questions posed by media multitasking researchers include “What do you like to do in your spare time?” (Bowman, Levine, Waite, & Gendron, 2010), “What is your favorite place to eat and what is your favorite dish there?” (Downs et al, 2015), and “If you won $100,000 in the lottery, what would you do with the money?” (Rosen et al, 2011). It goes without saying that these questions are unrelated to the experimentally selected primary tasks.…”

“…(Bowman, Levine, Waite, & Gendron, 2010), "What is your favorite place to eat and what is your favorite dish there?" (Downs et al, 2015), and "If you won $100,000 in the lottery, what would you do with the money?" (Rosen et al, 2011).…”