Multitasking

May 25, 2009 5:31 AM

It seems to be a commonly acceptably statement that women are better at multi-tasking than men. Is there any research into the opposite? Purely anecdotal evidence suggests that women aren't as hot at single tasking as men, but I've never seen this suggested...
posted by twine42 to Human Relations (4 answers total)

Gender differences in the multitasking are objects of research, so it goes beyond just anecdotal evidence. Ability to exert extreme concentration, hence single tasking, is more associated with factors like high functioning autism ('extreme male brain' as it is popularly referred to), found in males and females - more prevalent between males, so in that sense, you are right! It is certainly appreciated in certain occupations, but normative thinking does not consider neurological disorders to be advantageous. Maybe in the future. As for the research evidence, I would look for it in research on neurological disorders, non gender specific.
posted by Jurate at 6:49 AM on May 25, 2009

Googling "men women multitasking" yields a huge of articles which seem to cite studies.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:55 AM on May 25, 2009

Mod note: few comments removed - if we can keep to a narrow "studies please" reading of this question, maybe we'll be okay, thank you.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:29 AM on May 25, 2009

I'm reminded of this recent interview on marketplace by this question. Bottom line for me in understanding this issue is what you really mean and expect by multi-tasking. Is it taking care of divergent things (balancing the checkbook while making dinner and taking care of baby) or taking care of connected but different things (like a pilot monitoring many aspects of flight).
posted by meinvt at 1:49 PM on May 25, 2009