On the relation of working memory and multitasking: Memory span and synthetic work performance.
Abstract
Recent research has identified working memory as a critical component of multitasking ability. These studies showed that working memory accounted for multitasking variance over-and-above that predicted by other cognitive, personality, and experience-based variables. However, a limitation of these previous studies was that the tasks selected to measure working memory were dual-tasks themselves. The purpose of the current research was to determine if working memory measures must be dual-tasks to predict multitasking performance, or if other types of working memory measures that do not rely upon the dual-task methodology predict multitasking just as well, if not better. Three different serial order memory span tasks (one dual-task and two single-task) and one multitask were administered to a sample of healthy young adults. The results showed that single- and dual-task working memory measures predicted multitasking to a similar degree. The results indicate there is something fundamental about working memory's relationship with multitasking ability.
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Single-task working memory measures also predict multitasking performance.
“Thus, Redick (2016) examined whether working memory measures must be dual-tasks to predict multitasking performance, finding that singletask working memory measures also predict multitasking performance.”
From Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance (2018) · cites this paper as Redick (2016)
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- Authors
- Redick, T. S.
- Affiliations
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- Corresponding author
- Redick, Thomas S.
- ORCID
- Redick, Thomas S.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 401-409
- ISSN
- 2211-3681 (ISSN-L)
- 2211-369X
- OpenAlex
- W2470031163
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 4.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Office of Naval Research (N000140910129)
- National Institutes of Health (2R01AA013650-11A1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- working memory, multitasking, memory span, serial order memory, dual-task performance, cognitive ability
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