Education expert slams multitasking as urban myth

07 October 2024
student with headphones at a busy desk multitasking.jpeg
The concept of multitasking implies that a person can perform multiple tasks simultaneously with equal focus

By Priscilla Roberts

The concept of multitasking is a fallacy – that’s according to a CQUniversity education expert.

Adjunct senior lecturer and author of Responsibility Theory Dr Ragnar Purje said the concept of multitasking implies that a person can perform multiple tasks simultaneously with equal focus. However, research informs that the “action of multitasking is no more than an urban myth”.

“From an educational and learning perspective, students should avoid attempting to multitask when studying, as the evidence shows that practical learning and retention are at their highest when ‘multitasking’ is not taking place,” he explained.

“When individuals attempt to do more than one task at a time, they are not multitasking but instead are switching their attention from one task to another.

“Importantly, this task switching comes with a cognitive cost, as the brain must change gears from the rules and the demands of one task to those of another.

“This leads to a decrease in cognitive efficiency, with an associated increase in the likelihood of errors being made.”


Dr Ragnar Purje is dressed in a blue suit and stands in front of a tiled wall.jpg
Dr Ragnar Purje

Dr Purje said task complexity and familiarity can also play a role in the cost of task switching.

“More complex and less familiar tasks require more cognitive resources, thus increasing the time and effort needed to switch between them.

“However, there’s research evidence to show that even predictable switching between tasks can slow down performance.”

Dr Purje explained that the human brain is wired for more sequential task handling rather than parallel processing.

This is evident in language development, reasoning and planning, speech recognition, writing development, and the acquisition of a host of skills not just in education, but in social, cultural and professional spheres.

“Even though multitasking is a popular phrase thrown about, being popular doesn’t mean its accurate or that it actually exists.”