Overview
This lecture covers Andrade's doodling study, exploring the effects of doodling on attention and memory during a boring task.
Introduction to Multitasking and Attention
- Multitasking involves quickly switching attention between tasks, not doing them simultaneously.
- Attention means the concentration or mental effort on a specific stimulus.
- A primary task is what you are supposed to focus on; a concurrent task is done alongside the primary task.
Andrade's Doodling Study Design
- Andrade defined doodling as drawing unrelated sketches while performing another task.
- The study hypothesized doodling would increase attention on a boring auditory primary task.
- The experiment was laboratory-based using independent groups: doodling and control.
- 40 participants (opportunity sample) were recruited after a previous study to ensure boredom.
- The control group had lined paper with no instruction to doodle; the doodling group had to shade shapes on paper.
Procedure and Tasks
- All participants listened to a monotonous 2.5-minute phone call.
- The monitoring task: recall names of people attending a party (told in advance).
- The recall task: remember names and places mentioned unexpectedly.
- Counterbalancing was used to control order effects in recall questioning.
- The dependent variable was the number of correct answers (names and places), adjusted for errors and false alarms.
Results
- Doodling group filled in an average of 36.3 shapes; the control group did not doodle.
- Doodling group recalled a mean of 7.5 names/places; control group recalled 5.8 (29% less).
- Doodling group showed higher recall of both monitored and incidental information.
Conclusions and Explanations
- Doodling improved concentration on the primary task.
- Possible explanations: increased attention/arousal or improved memory processing.
- Study limitations: lack of data on daydreaming and memory processing details.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Primary Task — the main activity requiring attention (e.g., listening to a lecture).
- Attention — mental effort focused on a stimulus.
- Concurrent Task — a secondary activity done alongside the primary task.
- Doodling — making irrelevant sketches during another task.
- Opportunity Sample — participants selected based on availability.
- Monitoring Task — instructed recall of targeted information during a task.
- Recall Task — unexpected memory test of incidental information.
- Counterbalancing — method to control for order effects in experiments.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the definitions and study design for exam preparation.
- Consider the study's limitations for critical evaluation questions.