Gain in quantity and novelty of work in intermittent task switching

Abstract

The preponderance of evidence in the literature suggests that intermittent tasks reduce productivity and quality of work. In a task switching study, with intermittent tasks appearing once a minute or once every three minutes, we examined attention allocation and the effect of switching on the quantity and novelty of work. Self-reported estimates matched attention allocation obtained from eye fixations, indicating awareness and volitional control of attention. Arousal, quantity, and novelty of work were higher in the switching conditions in comparison to the single task condition. The findings point to the possibility of a quickening effect induced by switching that may be beneficial for work under specific task conditions.

Keywords:

• Attention control
• goal hierarchy
• multitasking
• primary task
• task switching

Notes

1 The difference between concurrent multitasking and interleaved task switching and the implications on allocation of attention is addressed by Aargaard (2019), who urges researchers to examine task switching as diversion of attention rather than division of attention.