Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
05:58
Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking
Published on: August 29, 2018
9.4K
Media multitasking and implicit learning
Kathleen S Edwards1, Myoungju Shin2
1School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|May 3, 2017
Summary
Heavy media multitaskers learn implicitly at a slower speed compared to light and moderate media users. This finding aligns with research suggesting broader attention in heavy media multitaskers may impair implicit learning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Media Psychology
Background:
- Media multitasking involves simultaneous engagement with multiple media forms.
- Previous studies suggest heavy media multitaskers possess a broader attentional scope than light multitaskers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if attentional scope differences influence implicit learning in media multitaskers.
- To examine the relationship between media multitasking, visual working memory, and contextual information processing.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-four participants were categorized into heavy, light, and intermediate media multitasking groups.
- Contextual cueing and n-back tasks were administered to assess implicit learning and working memory.
- Group differences in implicit learning speed and working memory performance were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Heavy media multitaskers demonstrated slower implicit learning speeds compared to light and intermediate groups.
- No significant associations were found between working memory capacity and media multitasking behavior.
- Working memory performance did not correlate with the degree of implicit learning observed.
Conclusions:
- Heavy media multitasking is associated with a deficit in the speed of implicit learning.
- Findings support the notion that a wider attentional scope in heavy media multitaskers may hinder implicit learning efficiency.
- No evidence suggests intermediate media multitaskers outperform other groups or that working memory mediates this effect.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Implicit Memories
516
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
One key aspect of implicit...
516
01:22Purposive Learning
546
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a...
546
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
286
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
286
01:21Cognitive Learning
1.5K
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
1.5K
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
821
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
821
01:24Working Memory
1.0K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.0K