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Multitaskers are "Lousy at Everything"

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missliz:

--- Quote from: tempest_gypsy on Sep 01, 2009, 03:06 pm ---Oh, wow!  I'd love to do homework.  Unfortunately, I've got a director who wants everything as soon as they think about it.  "Hey, I know this is the first time you've seen the scenic pieces and how well they work, and you know nothing about our crew's capabilities, yet.  But I want to know exactly how all these set changes are going to happen and I need it before we change to the next scene.  Make it like a dance."   ::)

I'd love to know exactly what sort of multitasking tasks they had the subjects doing, and if the proportion of technical vs. human interaction tasks affected performance?

--- End quote ---

The kept referencing things that weren't really in the same "track," like driving, texting, and drinking coffee. I think there's a difference between "keeping a lot of things in your head at once" (switching between a lot of related thoughts on one subject- i.e. SMing) and the type of multitasking they're talking about. I certainly think that people who try to juggle a bunch of things that aren't related are going to have a harder time switching between them.

saladressing:

--- Quote from: tempest_gypsy on Sep 01, 2009, 03:06 pm ---I'd love to know exactly what sort of multitasking tasks they had the subjects doing, and if the proportion of technical vs. human interaction tasks affected performance?

--- End quote ---

Same here! Also whether it matters if tasks were familiar or completely new.. Like for eg. I couldn't be on book and track blocking at the same time when I first learnt to being on book.. If things have become "habit" it would make sense that they don't take up all our brain-space, leaving us with energy to do other things (proficiently) at the same time.

ScooterSM:
I heard an interview on NPR with the author of the study, and here are more details...

The subjects were 250 college age people, who were tested on how easily they were distracted while media multi-tasking.  This included texting, watching tv, using computer, etc.  They also tested the number of errors that people made or how many times they had to restart a task.

I was kind of disturbed when I originally heard the study, since we SM's multi-task as a requirement, but (as many people have said) it seems like this is not necessarily applicable to us.  I would be interested in a study that measured the productivity of multi-taskers handling similar topic but different function tasks, like taking blocking, being on book, and keeping actors quiet at the same time.

Maybe we could get a grant...  :)

maximillionx:
I have to say, this doesn't sound like a "multi-tasking" study.  It sounds like just another memory study (a multi-memory study), but this time it's with a larger amount of variables.  And they say multi-taskers are in a constant state of stress....well, maybe sometimes, but I have to say that for most of my day I'm relatively calm and have a system for all the assignments and duties I have to perform.

I think we can all agree, as SMs we do have to remember a large amount of facts and information over the course of a day (let's not even talk about over the course of a show or season).  But that's why we have note-pads, lists, and forms of organization.  If anything, I feel like SMs are the exception to this "Lousy at everything" conclusion.  We find ways to get around the inefficiencies of the human condition and make things work.  Of course we don't remember every color of people's clothes and what they brought for lunch and who called us when.  But we can build a prop and fix a costume, all while monitoring a show before curtain and giving places and working with a egotistical member of your crew.

And lets think about how other jobs also do the same things as us.  How could you possibly run a company, or a store, or an office, or fill any managerial position without the ability to multi-task.

Personally, I have to declare shenanigans on this study just from what I've read.

ReyYaySM:
The NPR program on this subject that ScooterSM mentions can be found here.

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