Cited by 162Cognitive Abilities and TestingMind wandering and attentionCognitive Functions and Memory

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Everyday attention failures: An individual differences investigation.

Unsworth, Nash, McMillan, Brittany D., Brewer, Gene A., Spillers, Gregory J.·2012·Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition

DOI 10.1037/a0028075

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Abstract

The present study examined individual differences in everyday attention failures. Undergraduate students completed various cognitive ability measures in the laboratory and recorded everyday attention failures in a diary over the course of a week. The majority of attention failures were failures of distraction or mind wandering in educational contexts (in class or while studying). Latent variable techniques were used to perform analyses, and the results suggested that individual differences in working memory capacity and attention control were related to some but not all everyday attention failures. Furthermore, everyday attention failures predicted SAT scores and partially accounted for the relation between cognitive abilities and SAT scores. These results provide important evidence for individual differences in everyday attention failures as well as for the ecological validity of laboratory measures of working memory capacity and attention control.

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Authors: Unsworth, N., McMillan, B. D., Brewer, G. A., & Spillers, G. J.
Affiliations: University of Oregon (US)
Arizona State University (US)
Venue: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2012
Volume: 38
Issue: 6
Pages: 1765-1772
ISSN: 0278-7393 (ISSN-L)
1939-1285
DOI: 10.1037/a0028075
OpenAlex: W2028359980
Cited by: 161
References: 20
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 12.86
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords: individual differences, working memory capacity, attentional control, mind wandering, distraction, cognitive ability, SAT scores, ecological validity
MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Adult, Attention, Cognition, Eye Movements, Female, Humans, Individuality, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Reading, Young Adult

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Everyday attention failures: An individual differences investigation.

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