I would like to present a little bit provocative question: does the multitasking really exists...
Yes. Google Scholar results yielded 53 English pages hits for "human multitasking" and 3,420 English pages for the query, [human multitasking ("cognitive process" OR "decision making")] Apparently, there are even test for multitasking ability such as the Six Element Test. Some studies from the psychological sciences literature: PsycINFO 1806 to October Week 2 2006 Results of your search: from 16 [("Cognitive Processes" and multitasking). Buhner, Markus; et al. Working Memory Dimensions as Differential Predictors of the Speed and Error Aspect of Multitasking Performance. HUMAN PERFORMANCE. Vol 19(3) 2006, 253-275. Chan, Raymond C. et al Multitasking performance of Chinese children with ADHD. JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Vol 12(4) Jul 2006, 575-579. Salvucci, Dario D; et al. Toward and ACT-R general executive for human multitasking. [Book; Edited Book] Lovett, Marsha (Ed); et al (2004). PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COGNITIVE MODELING: ICCCM 2004: INTEGRATING MODELS. (pp. 267-272). 420 pp. Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. Kushleyeva, Yelena; et al. Deciding when to switch tasks in time-critical multitasking. [Book; Edited Book] Lovett, Marsha (Ed); et al. (2004). PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COGNITIVE MODELING: ICCCM 2004: INTEGRATING MODELS. (pp. 14-19). 420 pp. Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. Lien, Mei-Ching; et al. Attentional Limitations in Doing Two Tasks at Once: The Search for Exceptions. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE. Vol 15(2) Apr 2006, 89-93. Year of Publication 2006 Mackinlay, Rachael; et al. High functioning children with autism spectrum disorder: A novel test of multitasking. BRAIN AND COGNITION. Vol 61(1) Jun 2006, 14-24. Kushleyeva, Yelena; et al Deciding when to switch tasks in time-critical multitasking. COGNITIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH. Vol 6(1) Mar 2005, 41-49. Salvucci, Dario D. A Multitasking General Executive for Compound Continuous Tasks. COGNITIVE SCIENCE. Vol 29(3) May-Jun 2005, 457-492. Heyder, Katrin; et al. Cortico-subcortical contributions to executive control. ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA. Vol 115(2-3) Feb-Mar 2004, 271-289. Ehrenfried, Tanja; et al. Posture and mental task performance when viewing a moving visual field.COGNITIVE BRAIN RESEARCH. Vol 17(1) Jun 2003, 140-153. Kirsh, David. A Few Thoughts on Cognitive Overload .INTELLECTICA. No 30 2000, 19-51. Humphreys, Glyn W; et al: Control of multistep tasks. [Book; Edited Book] Monsell, Stephen (Ed); Driver, Jon (Ed). (2000). CONTROL OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES: ATTENTION AND PERFORMANCE XVIII. (pp. 425-472). xvi, 779 pp. Cambridge, MA, US: The MIT Press. Pashler, Harold; et al. Task switching and multitask performance. [Book; Edited Book] Monsell, Stephen (Ed); (2000). CONTROL OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES: ATTENTION AND PERFORMANCE XVIII. (pp. 275-423). xvi, 779 pp. Cambridge, MA, US: The MIT Press. Burgess, Paul W; et al. The cognitive and neuroanatomical correlates of multitasking. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA. Vol 38(6) Mar 2000, 848-863. Burgess, Paul W. Strategy application disorder: The role of the frontal lobes in human multitasking. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH/PSYCHOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNG. Vol 63(3-4) 2000, 279-288. Bainbridge, Lisanne. Processes underlying human performance. [Book; Edited Book] Garland, Daniel J (Ed); Wise, John A (Ed); Hopkin, V. David (Ed). (1999). HANDBOOK OF AVIATION HUMAN FACTORS. (pp. 107-171). xvi, 694 pp. Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. 1999 ------ Robin Y. Mabry Hubbard, MBA, EdS Rural Sociology Doctoral Student - Community Informatics Email: ryh352@mizzou.edu My Homepage: http://www.rrchubbard.org Murphy's Law: There is never enough time to do it right; but there is always time to do it over ~ Our Future arrived Yesterday! ~ [I am not inviting any postmodernist to my party!]