Developing a Theory of Multitasking behavior

摘要

The increasing use of Information Technology devices coupled with the time pressures that characterize modern life have transformed multitasking from an occasional behavior into a habit. In light of this change, a new theory is needed to explain why and how people multitask in an IT-enriched world. To this end, this paper develops a theory of multitasking behavior and identifies the causes, consequences, and patterns that characterize it. The core of the theory is the articulation of a typology of technology enactment shifts where ongoing tasks are fragmented and integrated with others due to internal or external triggers. The theory puts forth a set of propositions to explicate the causal logic for multitasking patterns and the likely performance consequences associated with them. This new theoretical view of multitasking has the potential to affect the design of systems and interfaces, to inform user behavior research, and to enrich human-computer interaction studies.