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RE: Debunk-Tuesday – The Myth of Multitasking
I think your article is focusing too much on intellectual processes. There are many kinds of tasks that fits well to multitask - knitting while watching TV (I took up knitting while I was in the military ... just to avoid going crazy ... knitting while watching the radar screen all until some female officer decided I was not allowed to do that. Of course, I got quite many comments from the other soldiers, after all knitting is a very unmanly thing to do). Talking with a friend while picking blue beries or jogging. Driving while listening to music or some audio book. Etc ...
I disagree. You only have the illusion of doing multiple tasks at once, but in reality your focus is divided, which has a detrimental effect on your overall performance.
As far as I can remember, there are indeed some studies looking into this exact thing. Sure, listening to music does not affect you as much as listening to an audio book or even having a phone call. But I am quite sure, if you would test your driving skills in a lab while doing any of these things compared to an undivided attention - you will be surprised.
Research has indeed shown that one becomes a much worse driver when trying to do a telephone conversation, a but the same effect is much less pronounced when having a conversation with a passenger. The passenger is able to read the traffic situation and won't demand immediate answers to tricky questions while there traffic requires full attention. I'm not aware of any research on driving and audio books.
Does it actually matters weather one is a more clever driver when not diverting attention to an audio book? I think not, for simple driving 100% concentration is simply not needed - and if the audio book keeps one from falling asleep due to boredom, it may even be safer. When arriving in some unknown city and full concentration is needed, it's always possible to press the pause button.
Knitting too - almost for sure one can do a better task by giving it 100% attention, but most experienced knitters will be able to do a good enough knitting job while watching a movie.
I'm quite sure there exists lots of complementary tasks that fits well together, knitting and watching a radar screen seems to be such a combination. At the other hand, reading a book and replying to messages is obviously not a good combination.