Does Social Media Multitasking Influence the Processing and Comprehension of Multiple Documents?

• In Event: AI Advancements for Literacy Learning and Beyond

Abstract

This study is the first that brings together the two burgeoning areas of multitasking in an educational context and multiple document comprehension. Using a 2 x 2 experimental design, we investigated the effects of media multitasking on integrative processing and integrated understanding of multiple documents, including main idea summarization of document paragraphs as a possible moderator. Results indicated that social media multitasking on a smartphone disturbed both the integrative processing and the integrated understanding of the documents, with main idea summarization mitigating or counteracting these negative effects of multitasking. However, when controlling for working memory, reading comprehension skills, and prior knowledge, integrative processing was not found to mediate the effect of multitasking on integrated understanding of the documents.

Authors

• Ymkje Elisabeth Haverkamp, University of Oslo

• Ivar Braten, University of Oslo

• Natalia Latini, University of Oslo

• Helge I. Stromso, University of Oslo