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Individual differences in task-unrelated thought in university classrooms
Michael J Kane1, Nicholas P Carruth2, John H Lurquin2
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA. mjkane@uncg.edu.
Academic habits like media multitasking and mind-wandering predict task-unrelated thought (TUT) in lectures. This off-task thinking partially explains how these habits influence final grades and student interest.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Individual differences in academic traits, attitudes, and habits are crucial for understanding student success.
- Task-unrelated thought (TUT), or mind-wandering, during lectures is a common phenomenon with potential implications for learning outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify academic predictors of individual differences in TUT during lectures.
- To examine whether TUT mediates the relationship between academic predictors and course outcomes (final grade, situational interest).
Main Methods:
- 851 undergraduates from ten psychology classes participated.
- Students responded to thought probes during lectures, categorizing thoughts as on-task or TUT.
- Academic self-report questionnaires and situational interest measures were administered.
Main Results:
- Classroom media-multitasking habits, initial interest, mind-wandering, and boredom propensity predicted TUT rates.
- TUT rate significantly predicted course grades and situational interest.
- Media multitasking and mind-wandering indirectly affected grades and interest through TUT.
Conclusions:
- Academic behaviors and predispositions influence course outcomes partly through their effect on off-task thought during lectures.
- Interventions aimed at reducing TUT may improve academic performance and engagement.
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