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The Piedmont Highlander
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
A Closer Look
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
The Piedmont Highlander
A Closer Look
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Multitasking: behind the myth of doing it all A Closer Look at the Science
Distraction: A Chain Reaction
Laser focused. Concentrated. Fixated. While these are common expressions, research suggests that humans have lost their ability to actually focus on one task at a time. “Brains are remarkably plastic, remarkably adaptable,” Dr. Richard Nass said in an interview with NPR. “We train our brains to a new way of thinking. And then when we try to revert our brains back, they don’t just snap back into shape.” Although studies like the one Nass references have debunked that our brains can truly focus on multiple tasks at once, many students still believe they can effectively multitask. “I think that multitasking does exist and I think that you can multitask while retaining efficiency,” junior Jared Tsukahara said. Junior Christian Hohener said he does not believe multitasking exists, but still listens to music for about five hours a day. “It helps me calm down and concentrate,” Hohener said. “I don’t consider listening to music a form of multitasking.” Tsukahara said that he is aware that some research has invalidated the claim that multitasking exists. “I know context switching is considered nearly impossible and there are several studies on it,” Tsukahara said. “I still prefer to think that it’s a skill that can be improved over time, like most things.” Scientists adapted context switching, originally a computer science term, to be a more apt description of what really happens when humans multitask. “Multitasking is really just forcing your brain to switch focus back and forth between multiple activities repeatedly,” Nass said. Nass said in the interview that although scientists know that humans can train their brains to be able to switch back and forth, the science community does not know whether they can be trained to be able to focus on one task again. “It’s very hard because frankly in the few studies we’ve tried to do it, people refuse,” Nass said in the interview. “It’s almost impossible to get a group of people who believe their lives are built around multitasking to stop for two weeks to actually see whether their brains have changed.” Nass’s theory of context switching replacing our ability to focus on one task supports the fact that many students have trouble focusing on one task at a time. “Yeah, I definitely have trouble focusing on my homework sometimes, especially when it’s something like reading or taking notes,” Hohener said. “I always check my phone while doing my homework.”
All it can take is one beep or buzz, one tiny distraction to set off a chain reaction. Everyone’s definition of multitasking is different, and the line between focused and not can be difficult to see for many, senior Lauren Young said. “There are some things I can do simultaneously,” Young said. “But when I try to multitask on more important things or something that requires more focus, I just feel scattered.” According to survey of more than 300 PHS students, 82% of students said they could effectively discern between important and unimportant material,. “Certain assignments are definitely more intense than others,” Young said. “If I have an essay for English, I have to sit down and focus on just that, but other things like worksheets or busy-work, I can let my brain wander a bit.” Young said outside the classroom, differentiating between what needs her full attention and what doesn’t becomes more challenging. “It is pretty easy to get distracted while driving if you hear your phone buzz or you’re changing music,” Young said. “You have to constantly keep your concentration, otherwise it’s too easy to get distracted.” Getting distracted is easier than staying focused, which is a big problem. It can be very challenging to control your focus, junior Tali Cooper said. “For me, it’s like a chain reaction,” Cooper said. “I can be focused on homework or something else, and then get distracted, which makes it harder to focus, which then makes it easier to get distracted on something else.” This snowball effect is a big deal for many high school students, especially those who have with ADD or ADHD, senior Tre Anderson said. “I actually have self-diagnosed ADD,” Anderson said. “I just can’t really stay focused on things.” There are ways to treat these attention disorders, including medication, Anderson said. “I know a bunch of other people who actually do have ADD, and they take Adderall or other things to help them,” Anderson said. “I think you just have to find what helps you focus, and stick with it. There will always be distractions, and it’s how you figure them out that matters.” Additionally, new types of technology and the increase in the availability of technology has only made concentrating harder for students, Young said. “I listen to music with basically everything I do,” Cooper said. “It calms me and makes me happy when I do things that would otherwise be more boring.” Many students listen to music throughout the day, and some teachers have started to allow students to listen to music during work time in class, Young said. “It is kind of an outlet for me to let out a little energy and be more creative in the things I do,” Cooper said.
Writing and research by Max Monical and Owen Levinson Editing and design by Marta Symkowick and Maggie Black
Graphic by Nina Tafapolsky
takes away focus from the road and causes more crashes, Nass said. According to the National Safety Council, about 1.6 million crashes a year in the United States are caused by mobile phone usage, and teenagers are around four times more likely to get in an accident due to cell phone usage. “I’ve seen the stats,” Tsukahara said. “Texting and driving is just one of those things that people say you should never do.” Hohener said he’s been told similar warning against any form The constant use of technology has led to a disconnect between our of distracted driving. screens and reality, Nass said. “Texting while driving is just “The more screens you put in the car, the more people want to look at one example of a larger phenomthe screen, and the basic problem is the windshield is just another screen,” of our age, often referred to as mulNass said. Conversation writer Richard Gunderman. Texting, talking on the phone, or doing anything else while driving
By the Numbers:
We train our brains to a new way of thinking. And then when we try to revert our brains back, they don’t just snap back into shape.
79% e n o n titasking,” said The
43%
69%
of students listen to music while doing homework. (356 responses)
of students think they can get all of their homework done without multitasking. (355 responses)
66%
of students listen to music while driving. (346 responses)
of students talk on speakerphone while driving. (343 responses)
64%
of students think they can multitask effectively. (354 responses)