SYRUS: Understanding and Predicting Multitasking Performance

This report is organized as follows: First, a broad definition of multitasking performance is offered and important considerations related to this definition. Second, an outline of the many task and environmental characteristics that potentially influence multitasking performance in critical ways is suggested. Third, specific cognitive and non-cognitive variables are identified as prime candidates for predicting multitasking performance, and specific research-based predictions follow. Fourth, related to the previous point, a summarization of our initial empirical work on multitasking, based on college-student participants who engaged in a computerized multitasking performance task. Fifth, we conclude by suggesting several avenues that may be profitable for conducting future research on multitasking performance. The original document contains color images.