Media Multitasking and Executive Functioning in Young Adults
type: CreativeWork
description: The purpose of this thesis was to determine the relationships between young adults executive functioning and media multitasking. This was addressed through the systematic exploration of executive functioning utilising behavioural performance tasks, informed by Diamond’s (2013) executive function framework that details three functions; inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility, in relation to media multitasking. In fulfilling this aim, an initial investigation was conducted which assessed self-reported frequency of media multitasking (utilising the Media Multitasking Index by Ophir, Nass & Wagner, 2009, including the full continuum of scores) in relation to performance on executive function tasks assessing inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility. No association between aspects of young adults executive functioning and self-reported frequency of media multitasking was found. Following this, the thesis continued with the systematic exploration of inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility in relation to media multitasking, progressing with the inclusion of a novel assessment of media multitasking ability. Within this second study, media multitasking was explored using objective measures, with participants completing a media multitasking situation. This type of media multitasking assessment has not previously been used in conjunction with performance on a full battery of executive function tasks. The study demonstrated an association between young adults’ cognitive flexibility and their ability to media multitask, in terms of recall of information from a media multitasking situation. It also reflected real world implications of media multitasking in terms of including a novel manipulation of media multitasking within a single device or between multiple devices. Lastly, the final empirical study explored the proximal effects of media multitasking on executive functioning in young adults, for which none were found. In addition to the main…
abstract: The purpose of this thesis was to determine the relationships between young adults executive functioning and media multitasking. This was addressed through the systematic exploration of executive functioning utilising behavioural performance tasks, informed by Diamond’s (2013) executive function framework that details three functions; inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility, in relation to media multitasking. In fulfilling this aim, an initial investigation was conducted which assessed self-reported frequency of media multitasking (utilising the Media Multitasking Index by Ophir, Nass & Wagner, 2009, including the full continuum of scores) in relation to performance on executive function tasks assessing inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility. No association between aspects of young adults executive functioning and self-reported frequency of media multitasking was found. Following this, the thesis continued with the systematic exploration of inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility in relation to media multitasking, progressing with the inclusion of a novel assessment of media multitasking ability. Within this second study, media multitasking was explored using objective measures, with participants completing a media multitasking situation. This type of media multitasking assessment has not previously been used in conjunction with performance on a full battery of executive function tasks. The study demonstrated an association between young adults’ cognitive flexibility and their ability to media multitask, in terms of recall of information from a media multitasking situation. It also reflected real world implications of media multitasking in terms of including a novel manipulation of media multitasking within a single device or between multiple devices. Lastly, the final empirical study explored the proximal effects of media multitasking on executive functioning in young adults, for which none were found. In addition to the main…
author: Seddon, A
keywords: BF Psychology
date published: 2019-05
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:30:28Z
provider: Liverpool Jon Moores University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Liverpool John Moores University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.24377/LJMU.t.00010635