Can We Do it All?
CYSF · 2025 Silver Medal
Overview
In this project, we will be finding if multitasking is as efficient as monotasking.
Hypothesis
• Although this factor is not mentioned in the question, age will affect the participants abilities because the brain weakens as humans grow older.
• Multitasking will not be as productive because both tasks are competing for focus-—for key efficiency and quality, one task must require less brain power than the other.
Variables
Controlled
• Duration
• Sequence
• Room conditions
• Verbal instructions
• Task
• Recorded words
• Voices
• Drawing
Manipulative
• The task condition [multitasking or monotasking.]
• Participant approach.
Responding
• Whether multitasking is as, more, or less efficient as monotasking.
Procedure
1.Draw
- participants are asked to draw a house. They have 2 miutes to do so, and every 15 seconds we ask them to add a detail like windows, pathaways, brick walls, etc.
2.Listen
- a 2 minute audio of randomized words are played and participants just listen. the audio is the same for all the participants. they do not know the next step.
3.Recall
- 1 minute to write down as many words as they can remember.
4.Draw and listen
- participants do step 1 and step 2 at the same time. the list of words is different than the first one but same across tests.
5. recall
- participants have 1 minute to write down as many words as the can remmeber.
Observations
• Participants who strategized to remember the words did well.
• Kids were most confident when writing the words.
• Both genders did equal.
• Participants who did significantly worse on the multitasking test had drawings as good as the monotasking test.
• Participants were more visibly confused during the second test.
Conclusion
• The hypothesis was partially correct.
• Participants did not excel in the multitasking portion of the experiment, however, adults performed better than kids.
• The adult brain was more efficient than the child’s brain, showing that in fact, as human’s age and work more, their multitasking brains develop.
Application
• Multitasking training and practice.
• Efficiency tools on when and how to multitask.
• Multitasking isn’t always bad for the body, but when overdone, it can have negative effects and worsen work quality and efficiency.
Sources Of Error
• More contestants.
• Controlled amount of people per test.
• Questions for each participant before they are tested [eg., do you plan out your days?]
• AI for recording words.
• Script for instructions.
• Less words and details.
Images (1)
Awards (1)
Competition history
- CYSF 2025
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Source: Calgary Youth Science Fair