Multitasking While Studying

Multitasking while Studying

February 3, 2016

Table of Content

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Question…………...……………………………………………………………....…………….4

Variables……………………...…………………………………………...……………….…….4

Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………………....….4

Background

Research………………………………………………………………………………….......….4

Materials List………………………………………………………………………………...….7

Experimental Procedure………………………….…………………………………………………………….9

Data Analysis…………..…………………………………………………………………………….10

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………...14

Ideas for Future Research……………………………...………………………………………………………...15

Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………….15

Bibliography……………………………………………………...…………………………….16

Abstract

I chose multitasking while studying to be my science fair project because it can help the results of students’ test results. Doing two or more things at once distracts you and does not help you focus. My hypothesis is that if you try to listen to music, or a person talking, or tv, you will not do good on the test you are studying for. My first group of 15 volunteers studied while listening to music and me speak. This first group was trying really hard to focus.Second group of 15 studied in silence. This group was being goofy and did not try hard to study for the test. My volunteers that studied in silence did not do as well as the ones that multitasked. These volunteers were not taking it seriously. But, I think if they tried their best and were focused that they would have done better than the ones that multitasked. All the volunteers had the same study guide and test. They all had the same amount of time to study. I graded all their tests. The first group of 15 did a little better than the second group. Therefore; my data did not support my hypthothesis.My main conclusion is that if you try your best to study, no matter what, your test results will be good.

Does Multitasking Help or Hinder you while Studying?

Variables

My controlled variables in my experiment are the study guide, amount of time to study, and the test. Both classes of 15 had the same time and material. The independent variable is noise while studying. In class 1, I played music and read a book to the students while studying. Class 2 studied in silence. The dependent variable is the accuracy of the tests.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis is that if you try to listen to music, or a person talking, or tv, you will not do good on the test you are studying for. This is my hypothesis because I can never focus on my studying while trying to listen to music or watch something.

Background Research

Lots of teenagers have trouble studying or doing homework without texting someone, watching television, listening to music, eating, or checking social media. In this paper, I’m going to answer all your questions about multitasking. Why do we multitask? Why put our focus and attention into two or more things at once? How does the brain work during multitasking? Where does multitasking perform in the brain? I have found three articles that help me explain it.

Researchers have found out that when alternating tasks, we use the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex takes focus to use. Studies in this say our brain can only take one thought at a time, not a bunch of thoughts together. Researchers that study map brain activity have found that short breaks in focus while studying or working makes the brain confused and lose focus into what they were doing. Scientists say multitasking and task-switching are both bad for our brain and waste time. ( Sciencebuddies.org, 2014)

Investigators had literally observed students that studied for 15 minutes. They said the students lost their focus after 2 minutes and that they only literally studied for 65% of the 15 minutes. It is also saying that we use media multitasking while learning, meaning it is hard for students to write a paper or complete a problem without using technology and that they are dependent on technology. Evidence suggests that when students multitask while studying and/or working, that they are not learning/doing the material well and the material won’t be remembered as long. That being said, students should turn all electronics off around them if they want to learn the material well. ( Paul, 2013)

According to Weimer, 2012, it is easy to for students to lose focus and try to multitask with all the technology around us. Students think they can do a couple of things at once, not caring about the quality of what they make. Research says that multitasking doesn’t hinder with only 5% of students. The author of it is also wanting to find a way to stop the students from doing multiple tasks while studying because the effects are so negative for them. Confronting students with this negative evidence should stop them from it, but it is the student’s choice. ( Weimer, 2012)

All of these articles agreed that multitasking is bad. They all agreed that it is hard for the students’ brains to stay focused with all the