Voluntary versus Forced Task Switching

Abstract

Research on task switching has focused on the relatively well known task switching cost, an increase in RT on a trial directly following a switch. Two main issues with previous studies raise concerns about their external validity (1) they typically use short and arbitrary tasks in comparison to real work situations and (2) the vast majority force participants to switch rather than allowing them to do so voluntarily. The current experiment utilized two longer lasting tasks (document proofreading and a Sudoku puzzle) to more closely resemble real world situations and four task switching groups. One group switched voluntarily, one was forced without warning, one was forced with a cue that a switch would be coming, and one served as a no switch control group. Performance, reaction time, and mental workload (NASA-TLX) were measured. Task switch groups did not differ on these dependent variables, and no task switching cost was observed. The failure to find a task switching cost lends support to the proposition that previous lab studies may not adequately resemble real world scenarios, and that micromanaging small tasks may not be comparable to switching between comparatively longer lasting tasks.