kaiser media multitasking

7/28/2019 Kaiser Media Multitasking

1/39

MEDIA MULTITASKING AMONG AMERICAN YOUTH:PREVALENCE, PREDICTORS AND PAIRINGS

Ulla G. Foehr, Ph.D.

December 2006

MUSIC

TV

VIDEO GAMES

READING

COMPUTER

INTERNET


2/39

Ta b l e o f C o n T e n T s

1.INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.BaCkgROUNDReseaRCh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3.PReVaLeNCe:hOWCOMMONIsMeDIaMULTITaskINg?. . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.PReDICTORs:WhOIsMeDIaMULTITaskINg? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

5.PaIRINgs:WhIChMeDIaaReUseDTOgeTheR? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

6.ThejUggLINgaCT:hOWDOChORes,eaTINg,aND

sOCIaLIzINgfITWIThMeDIaUse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

7.CONCLUsION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

aPPeNDIxMeThODOLOgy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

eNDNOTes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

RefeReNCes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35


3/39

Intpt,multitinwu-

linctprormdbbudult,

ttridtomnob,cor,

crpool,ndPTamtin.Butrcnt-

l,tnndtwnvturndintot

rlprttmultitin,tirliv

bcom coc-ull o ornidctivi-

ti.fortm,multitinimpl

bcomwoli:IIcouldntmul-

tit,IcouldntdowtIdoIdvtocutport,orcutclon

icoolunior(hnr,2001).

Mucotmultitinounpopldo rvolvround

mdi u. T w oun popl u mdi i cn-

in drmticll. ancdotl vidnc ut tt mdi

multitin, or nin in mor tn on mdi ctiv-

it t tim, i common occurrnc. Nw tcnoloi,

uc t computr, ppr to otr obiv multit-

in, nml contntl witcin btwn uc ctiviti

intnt min (IM), mil, ordrin boo onlin nd

ctcin quic dlin. hndld itm m it ir to

multit,llowintn,ormpl,toplvidomor

ttmrindwilwtcinTV.

sucmultitinilomodlobviorttmdicom-

pnictivlpromotintircommrcilndintpublicit

ortmndwbit.arult,tnpndmortim

uin vrl mdi imultnoultnvr bor. In 2005,

kirfmilfoundtionrportowdnincrinmdi

multitin:26%omditimipntonmultiplmdi,up

rom16%omditimin1999.

Ocour,mdimultitininot

nwpnomnon.Twodcdo,

itwnotunuultoounpr-

on rd wil litnin to muic, or

lip trou min wil wtc-

intlviion. Butuntil rcntl, c-

dmictudididnotmntionortrc

imultnouorrdmditim.It

i t computr tt promot mul-

titin, providin nturl br inwor(downlodtim,tc.)ndrulr

intrruption (intnt m pop-up

crn). hnc,todout,wovrownup witcom-

putr,rprpmorprontomdimultitin.

Wilt2005kirfmilfoundtiontuddocumntd

tprcntomditimpntmdimultitin,tinli

dcribttnmotliltomdimultitndwic

mdi r combind t mot in multitin. It lo loo

t ow otr crctritic nd tn bvior ct mdi

multitin.

Ti i nw r or rrcr. Wit t cption o

ncdotl vidnc nd w urv, rrcr v littl

inormtion bout t tnt nd ntur o dolcnt mdi

multitin.Tqutionwrinvtitinrnw:qu-

tionuchowprvlntimdimultitin?Woi

mdimultitin?Imdimultitinbviorrltdto

otrmdibviororpronlcrctritic?,ndWic

ctivitirmototnmultitd?

1 . I n T R o D U C T I o n

I multitask every single second I

am online. At this very moment, I am

watching TV, checking my email every

two minutes, reading a newsgroup

about who shot JFK, burning some

music to a CD and writing this

message. 17-year-old boy

(Lenhart, Rainie, & Lewis, 2001)


4/39

M E D I A M U L T I T A S K I N G A M O N G A M E R I C A N Y O U T H : P R E V A L E N C E , P R E D I C T O R S A N D P A I R I N G S

altouno rrc ocudp-

ciicllontctomdimultit-

in on tn nd on tir nvironmnt,

convntionl widom nd brin rrcupport t id tt tr r limit to

owmucourbrincnproctonc.

T rrc lo indict tt pror-

mnc dcr wn pron ttmpt

to prorm two t imultnoul.

Multitin m lo ct t bilit

tocomprndcontnt.Inddition,i

mdimultitinnvironmntbcom

tnormorounpopl,dvrtirnd

pro-ocil mrtr will v to rtin

owtorcoutwittirm.

I tn rquntl nd il it ttn-

tionmonmdi,dvrtirwillndto

bcommorcrtivwittirm.

On t otrnd,tr m biddnpoitiv bnit in t bilit to mn-

mdimultitinmondolcnt.

furtr rrc m ow tt mdi

multitinivlublliill.

Tirrctinitiltpininv-

titin mdi multitin. Bor n

rrc nd cn mov orwrd, w

mut undrtnd bit mor bout t

nturomdimultitin.

Im always talking to people

through instant messenger

and then Ill be checking email

or doing homework or playing

games AND talking on the phone

at the same time. 15-year-old

girl (Lenhart et al., 2001)


5/39

O

nlrcntl mdi multitinbn rconid

ctor wort invtitin (Brown & Cntor,

2000; Robrt & for, 2004; Robrt, for, &

Ridout,2005; Robrt, for, Ridout,& Brodi,1999;TMdiCntrttamricnPrIntitut,2004;yoo!&

CrtIntrctiv,2003).Otn,tudiotuomdiuc

computr nd tlviion r urv tt do not nturll

cpturimultnoumdiu.Robrtndcollu(1999,

2004,2005)wrtirttoumultiplmurtotimt

botpourtomultiplmdindmdiu(mdipour

rducdbtproportionotimpntdoublinuponmdi).

Tirportnltodtinrtrdtil.

Studies on Prevalence of Media Multitasking

a2003tudo13-to24-r-old,willcinninor-mtion bout mdi multitin prvlnc, rportd tt

wnmotounpoplmultit,timultitinicntrd

roundonlin ctiviti.Itlo concludd ttmdi ctiviti

trmotliltoninwiloinonlinrlitnin

tomuicndwtcinTV(yoo!&CrtIntrctiv,2003).

Trrcrcrctridounpoplmdimultitin

tiw:Multitin(uinvrioumdi imultnoul) i

tMillnnilpcilt,ndtrowtintmountomdi

binudbounpoplilrlplindbtirmulti-

tinbvior.TNtplcntrlrolintirmultit-

in,ctintubmdi(ic)tttocuuponmot.

(yoo!&CrtIntrctiv,2003,p.11).1

TwotudioutotPwIntrntProctutttoun

poplrninincomputr-bdmultitin,wll

mornrlmultitinwiluinmdi(Lnrt,Mddn,

&hitlin,2005;Lnrttl.,2001). In2001,trrcr

wrot:Wntnrlodon,trotnmulti-tin,

imultnoulmilin,intntmin,urintWb,nd

itrortuntnoutovtwoponlin,cllpon,

orbrodbndconnction,tlinontpon,too.(Lnrt

tl.,2001,p.13).Initdicuiononmdimultitin,t

2005rport ocudprimril onintntmin. anlin

t ort dl btwn tn m nd rpon, t

rrcrnot:Tnvlonrndtmllmomntdurin IM convrtion to nbl tm to ccompli otr

twilconvrin.Wntnoonlin,twilluIM

convrtionlcntrpicwilconductinotrbuin

inttimp(p.23).Twoquotromocuroupinti

tudilittipropnittomultitdurinIM:

I usually check my email and I have an online journal and so Ill

write in that, chat with my other friends, and if I have little things

to do around the house then I can do it [while instant messaging]

because unless its somebody that responds quickly, then I can just go

around and do something real quick and come back. High SchoolFemale (Lenhart et al., 2005)

I do more than one thing at once [while online] because my con-

nection is so slow. If I dedicated my attention to one webpage, Id go

crazy waiting for it to load every time. High School Male (Lenhart

et al., 2005)

Otrtudiupporttidtttcnoloiucintnt

min r mon t mot otn rportd multitd

bvior(grintr&Pln,2002).

Rcntl, rrcr v turnd tir ttntion to mdi

multitinmondult.Ontudtimtttordult,

lmotqurtromdiu(23.7%)ipntwitmortn

onmdium (Pppr t l., 2004).2 a numbr opropritr

rportlo invtit tincidnc omdi multitin,or

imultnoumdiumondult(:TMdiCntrt

tamricnPrIntitut,2004,2004b).

2 . b a C k g R o U n D R e s e a R C h


6/39


How Our Brains Handle

Multitasking

Wnounpoplttmpttopro-

c inormtion rom mor tn onmdiumttmtim,owdotir

brinndltdt?Trilittl

rmntintnuroloiclndp-

coloicllitrturonowourbrin

ctullunctionwnwtrtoproc

mortnonm,orccompli

multiplt imultnoul(Mr & kir,1997). Mn

torittmpttoccountortdlinrponwnw

trtodotwotimultnoul,orinrpiduccion.Mot

inormtion procin tori ut tt tr i limit to

wtourbrincnctullprocimultnoul(Mr&kir,1997;Plr,2000).Rrcowttwilwcn

prcivtwotimuli inprlll,wcnnotproctmimul-

tnoul(Plr, 2000). Ti pnomnon bn nmd

tpcoloiclrrctorpriod(PRP).TPRPrrtot

trtimrquirdtorpondtotimulutcloriti pr-

ntdtonotrtimulu.Touwpirotvbn

oundorwictPRPdonotppl,motimpltrult

indldrponwnpirdwitnotrimplt.

Rrcrruncrtinboutwtctlcutbottl-

ncinprocin.Mnuttttbottlncitt

rtrivl,or ctionplnnin, t,but owimultnou trmndin tbrin inotundrtood(Mr& kir,

1997;Plr,2000).somrrcrpculttttrm

bcntrlcutivprocorttcut,wilotru-

tttbottlncribcutbrincnnotmintintwo

mppininnctivtt(Plr,2000,p.301).

On ot morcot ocitd wit multitin to

dowitbrinrourc. Uinmnticronnciminto

monitor t brin wil prticipnt n in multipl t

rrcrvoundtttctivtionvolumiiniicntl

lwntwotrprormdimultnoultntum

otctivtionrwncottiprormdind-

pndntl(juttl.,2001;klinbr&Rolnd,1997).T

indinoldorbotimilrt(tndldbtm

rotbrin)(klinbr&Rolnd,1997),wlldiimi-

lrt(ptilrltionndmnticctoritionndld

btwoprtrotbrin)(juttl.,2001).

Onintrprttionotrultindicttttrmb

nupprlimittotmountobrintiuttcnbctivtd

tnontim.Tutttwnwprormtwoction

imultnoul,wdvotrducdrourctocon(jutt

l., 2001). anotr intrprttion o

trultutttitmbtt

trrlimitonowmucttntion

proncnptomortnont.(jut t l., 2001). Ti plntion

iinlinwitLn(2000),ndotr

inormtionprocintori(Mr

&kir,1997).somrcntpionr-

in rrc loutttditrc-

tionctowinormtionilrnd,

cnintmmortmudndmintinormtion

luulltr(scmid,2006).

Mor rcntl, t communiction litrtur d lit

onmttntionndprocinintconttomultipl-

mnvironmnt.anumbrodul-ttntiontudivmind itution tt mor clol rmbl tod mdi

multitin itution. T indin rom ti rrc ulti-

mtluttoutcomonwouldpct:wcnnotttnd

tondprocimultnoulmultiplnon-rltdm.

Rrcr r tt wn two cnnl r mnticll

conitnt(udiondviultrcontlviionnwprorm),

ur cn ttnd to, proc nd rcll inormtion wit ,

uinprocclldprcptulroupin(grim,1990,1991).

howvr,wnttwocnnl convmnticlldirnt

inormtion,viwrcnrclllinormtion,ndotnuc-

cullocuononcnnlonl(Brn,grim,&Pottr,2005;Drw&grim,1987;grim,1991;Ln,1995;R,

1984). On mpl o mnticll dirnt inormtion

i CNN dividd crnwit ticrnd runnin dlin.

Dpitttmpttoimprtvritoinormtionontm

crn,nduinbotudiondviulcnnl,udinccn

onl uccull proc inormtion rom dirnt cnnl

(udiondviul)wnit imnticllconitnt(Brnt

l.,2005).

Wil rrc on nrl multitin i inormtiv, t

itution t up in primnt r t-orintd, nd otn

undr timprur. Inn pprocmor lil tormbl

modrnmdimultitinitution,omnwrtudiv

documntd t dtrimntl ct o vin t tlviion

onintbcround(rrdlocontnt)wilprormin

otr conitivldmndin tuc rdin(armtron,

2000; armtron, Borir, & Mr, 1991; armtron &

grnbr,1990;armtron&sopor,1997;furnm,guntr,

&Ptron,1994).

Ttrm mdi multitinncomp vrito nw

nddirntindoprocinitution.Inrtdlo

I get bored if its not all going at

once, because everything has

gaps waiting for a website tocome up, commercials on TV, etc.

17-year-old girl

(Lenhart et al., 2001)


7/39

K A I S E R F A m I L y F O U N D A T I O N

mdi multitin itution, oun

popl r not ttmptin to proc

non-complmntr m imult-

noul, but rtr r witcin bcnd ort btwn dirnt ctiviti.

Nuroloiclrrcidntiidt

portionotbrinrponiblort

witcinctiviti(Wlli,2006;Wood

&grmn,2003),butlittlinown

bout t ct o contnt witc-

in btwn mdi in contmporr

mdinvironmnt.

Rrcr v ll too otn

ocud on idntiin t poibl

ntivctobvior.howvr,

mnin multipl mdi m vplntopoitivctwll.Mdi

urrlrnintounow

to ul multipl ctiviti, u tim

icintlnduitintcnoloi

incrtivw,lbitomtimnot

oriinllintndd.Wiltrr

drwbctomdimultitin,tr

mbdvntwll.

I usually finish my homework at

school but if not, I pop a book open

on my lap in my room, and while thecomputer is loading, Ill do a problem

or write a sentence. Then, while mail

is loading, I do more. I get it done a

little bit at a time. 14-year-old boy

(Wallis, 2006)


8/39


9/39

howprvlntimdimultitinmonounpo-

pl?artrlluindirntmdittm

tim? W ound tt wil om tn nd twn

mtoumortnonmdium,..,tttmdimul-

tit,otn,ubtntilnumbrdonot.Tdtintitud

comromtwodirntourc: dirrcordino 3rd12t

rdrwowrdtoprcordoowmuctimt

ud dirnt mdi ndwicmdi tud totr, nd

urvrpono7t12trdr.

T dir dtrom 3rd12trdrllow u to clculttproportionomditimrportdlpntuintlttwo

mdi. Tiproportion wclcultd t tindividul lvl,

tin rpondnt totl tim uin t lt on condr

mdiumnddividinbtirtotltimwitprimrmdi.3

T vr proportion o mdi timpnt mdi multit-

inw.21.4howvr,19%olldirrpondntwopnt

omtimwitmdi(N=685)didnotucondrmdiin

tntirwotdir.Oidwopntomtimwit

primrmdindomtimmdimultitinovrtw

otdir(N=549),tproportionomditimpntmdi

multitini .26. Wnnldonlor7t12trdr,

cotdirrultiwitin1prcntpointotrult

ortwolmplo3rd12trdr.

Dtromturv,loointmultitindurinpciic

mdictiviti,upporttindinromtdir.aown

inTbl 1,wn dowotn t u otrmdi wn

uincoourmdi(print,TV,computr,ndvidom),

nwrrom qurtrto tird o7t12trdrrport

multitinmotottim.Wnwbrodnmotot

timrpontoincludomottim,moritoid

rportmdimultitincotmdiwdbout.On

totrnd,nwrrom12to19%rporttttnvr

multittmdiuminqution.Inort,omounpopl

multitcmdiumlot;otrdoolittlornottll.

aonmitpct,tdtutttomidmdi

multitcontntlwilotr,inddiblproportion,do

itvrlittlornottll.Itpprttbout1/5ooun

popldvotvrlittl,in,timtomdimultitin.Ti

pproimtion m conitnt,bd onbott urv nd

tdirdt.T19%o8-to18-r-oldwodidntuncondrmdiinnntirwomdiumnrll

conitnt witt rn o 12-19% o 7t12trdrwo

rportnvruinnotrmdiinconunctionwitonot

mdilitd.Wnwlootidwodopndomotir

mdi timmdi multitin,t pnd bout qurtro

tirtimwittltonotrmdium.

How Often Are Media the Priority and How Often Are They

the Background?

Itilpultoowtimidividdmonmdi,wll

witinmdi.Tti,wnuinmdiumuctlviion,

owotniittprimrmdiumndowotniitcond-

rmdium?5fiur1illutrttmountotimdvotdto

cmdictivitbotprimrndcondrctivit.

Wilounpoplpndmortimwitmotmdictivi-

tiprimrmdi,tdvotmortimtomilndwb-

itcondrctivititntdoprimrctiviti.

3 . PReValenCe:h oW CoMMon I s MeDI a MUlTI Tas kI ng?


10/39


Tiindict tt oun popl otn n in otr mdi

ctiviti tir primr ctivitwil uin milor viitin

wbit.OnllitlmortimidvotdtoIMprimr

ctivittn condrctivit, utin ttIM i r-

quntlpirdwitotrmdictivitiwll.Innrl,

computrctivitirotncondr.Wnllcomputrtim

i ummd (totl computrtim), lmot ourour w

rpntoncondrcomputru,ndlmotionprimr

u.

surpriinl,idlopndlototimrdinndplin

vidomcondrmdictivitiwll.Rdininotdiiculttoimincondrctivit(rdinwitttl-

viionon,orwilomtindownlodontcomputr),but

vidommlprobblcondrctivit.howvr,

oundultmlwillotntctwotlviionononnotr

ondvotdtotlviionndtotrtovidom,ott

tcnubotimultnoul.

Incontrt, tlviion(wicinclud tlviionnd DVD

or vido)6 domint primr mdictivit. It iit

timmorliltobprimrmdictivittncond-

rmdictivit,ndmuicmortntrtimmorlil

tobprimrctivit.givntwitwictncould

lblbototctiviticondr,tincidncot

primrctiviti,prticulrlormuic,iurpriin.Ttid,

idromtotlcomputr,mortimidvotdtotlviion

condrctivittntonotrcondrctivit.Ttwocttotr tprominncotlviionprimr

mdiumoppodtocondrmdium,nditprominnc

condrmdiumcomprdtonotrmdiillutrt

trvolumotimdvotdtotlviion.

fIGURE 1. TOTAL wEEKLY HOURS (bASED ON DIARY DATA) DEvOTED TO

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Music

TV

Reading

Videogames

Total

computer

Computer

games

Homeworkon

computer

IM

Primary

Secondary

Email

Websites

Other

computer

7:26

16:34

2:08

2:21

2:08

1:30

1:53

1:03

5:46

3:52

1:26

0:361:17

0:35

1:04

0:54

0:170:36

0:26

0:32 1

:17

0:38

*TV refers to time spent watching television, DVDs or videos. Time is given in hours:minutes.

TAbLE 1. SURvEY RESpONSES TO MEDIA MULTITASKING QUESTIONS:pERCENT Of 7TH1TH GRADERS wHO SAY THEY...

Most Some Most/ Little Never Little/of the of the Some of the NeverTime Time Time

Multitask other mediawhile reading 28 30 58 26 16 42

Multitask other mediawhile watching TV 24 29 53 28 19 47

Multitask other mediawhile listening to music 33 30 63 25 12 37

Multitask other mediawhile using the computer 33 29 62 23 14 37

Do multiple things atthe same time on thecomputer 39 25 64 19 14 33


11/39

Borloointowmdicttnbvior,iticriti-

cltoundrtndwictnmultitndwitwic

mdi. ar ll oun popl qull lil to mdi

multit,ordoomvirpropnittnotr?Ti

iuintrtnotonlmdicolr,butlomdicorpor-

tionnddvrtirtrintocpturttnmrt.

Turvdtnldintipproruniquopportu-

nittocorrltounpopll-rportdmdimultitin

bvior wit dmorpic,pronlittrit,nd ouold

rul ndmdi vilbilit. Tictionprnt rrionnlioturvdt,wicittiticlnliudto

modltrltionipbtwnvribl,inticprdictiv

modlotlilioodttounpronwillmdimultit.

Itocuon mdimultitinind tdpndntvri-

bl.Bcumnotqutionointrtwrdonlo

7t12trdr,tinliocuonlontoldrcildrn

intdtt.

Trrionnl,wicincludd18prdictorvribl

(lllitdinTbl2),mindtrltionipbtwnmdi

multitinndvrioupotntilprdictorucrc,duc-

tion,incom,mdipourndndr.(stappndior

ullplntionotrrionmtod.)Trrionmodl

witll 18prdictorplind24% o tvrinc o mdi

multitin.

Trrioncoicint(Tbl2)indicttt,controllin

orllotrvribl,ivcrctriticcontributclrltopr-

dictinmdimultitin.Trndr(witirltndin

tomultitwitvrioumdimortnbo),mdipo-

ur, tprominnc o tlviion in touold, computr

ownrip/plcmntndntion-inpronlittrit(

dindblitoqutionboutri-tinctiviti).eco

tcontributiniicntltoprdictinmdimultitin.

ec contributin vribl Bt, or tndrdid coicint,

illutrttrltivcontributionoc.Mdipourit

trontprdictor,ollowdbvincomputrndbinbl

totlviionromit,ntion-in,ndlivininil

TV-orintd ouold. gndr nd not vin computr

contributlitll.

Trrionnlowttilltinrqul,do-lcntworpodtomormdirmorliltomdi

multit. Ti w n pctd outcom. a id dd mor

mdictivititotirlimitdrtim,tmutmdimulti-

tinordrtoccommodttm.Inprvioutud(Robrt

&for,2004),outwowriuroprint,computr

ortlviionpntmortimwitotrmditnoutwo

wrmodrtorlowurocotomdi.Inordror

outtopnduclrmountotimwitmdi,omo

tttimmutvbnpntmdimultitin.Tutor

potid tt to i mdi ur wr t on mot

liltomultittirmdiu.

Intrtinl, computr plcmnt nr tlviion clo

noutoviwTVromtcomputrinotrtronprdic-

toromdimultitin.Itiimportnttormmbrttt

comprionroupitowovcomputrbutcnnot

tlviion romit. Ti prdictor p toopportunit to

multit.hnc,impltdditionoTVintvicinito

tcomputrincrmdimultitin.

4 . P R e D I C T o R s : W h o I s M e D I a M U lT I Ta s k I n g ?


12/39

10 M E D I A M U L T I T A S K I N G A M O N G A M E R I C A N Y O U T H : P R E V A L E N C E , P R E D I C T O R S A N D P A I R I N G S

*Not significant in other analysis (see Appendix for details).

younpoplwolirinddvnturndrntion

rr mor lil to mdi multit. sntionr

rvrtobordomndnrlldvnturndcitin

princ.Itollow,tn,ttntionrrmorlil

tovmultiplmdibllintirtnontim.

younpoplwo livin iltlviion-orintdou-

old r lo mor lil to mdi multit. houoldcrctrid il TV-orintd v no rul bout TV,

uullwtcdurinmlndotnlvtTVonrrdl

o wtr non i wtcin. Tcircumtnc nturll

incropportunittomdimultit.

girlrmorliltomdimultittnrbo.Ti

m not com urpri ivnt nrl umption tt

womnrupriormultitr(OConnll,2002;sllnbrr,

undtd).Womnvlrrprrontlcort(tprtot

brin rponibl or multitin) nd om ut womn

brinrcitcturmtmbttrmultitr(fir,1999).

evolutionrpcolomtrumntttwomnnd

tobbttr multitr;womn volutionr rol, crinor

oprin,rquirdtttulmultiplctiviti,ndto

wowrucculurvivd(ellion,2005).girltod,prp

nticllprimdorit,multitwtittcntrotir

nvironmnt:mdi.Inct,littlrrcitonmultitin

proicinc;tourrcdoconirmttwomndomulti-

tlitlmorotn(scnidr&Wit,2005),trivr

littlrrctoupporttidttwomnrctullbttr

multitrtnmn(Mn,2005).Nontl,tdt

nldor tirport indicttt dolcnt irl dopnd

morotirmditimmultitin.Ticouldvmorto

dowittmdictivititcoo(IM,mil,wbitnd

muic)tnwitominrntbilitordrivtomultit.finll,notvincomputr(comprdtotowov

computrbutcnnottlviion)mtobocitdwit

lmdimultitin,wouldbpctdivntrolot

computrinprovidinopportunititomdimultit.(st

appndiordtil.)

alonotwortrtcrctriticttdidnotinlunc

mdimultitintnullindin.Rc,,incomnd

duction,otnprdictoromdiu,wrnotiniicntpr-

dictorintimodl.Wilrc,,incomndductionm

prdictmdiu,tdonotpprtoindicttlilioodto

mdimultit(appndiordicuionotlimittionotmuroductionndincomintidtt).

TAbLE . REGRESSION ANALYSIS COEffICIENTS

Regression Model Standardized SignificanceCoefficients (Beta)

(Constant) 0.000Grade 0.00 0.896

Black 0.03 0.199

Hispanic 0.00 0.951

Other Race 0.01 0.786

Girl 0.11 0.000

College 0.05 0.096

NA Education 0.01 0.580

Median Income 0.04 0.238

East 0.03 0.418

South 0.02 0.480

Midwest -0.02 0.664

Suburban -0.02 0.603

Rural -0.04 0.211

Media Exposure 0.23 0.000

Highly TV Oriented 0.15 0.000No Computer* -0.08 0.008

Can See TV From Computer 0.18 0.000

Sensation Seeking 0.16 0.000


13/39

Wn oun pron u two or mor mdi

imultnoul, wic on r ud totr? I

muicotnonintbcround?Wnplin

vidomorrdin,doounpopldvotullttntionto

tttnd?arounpopllwdoinmortnon

tinttimontcomputr?Tictionlootwic

mdirudtotr,rrdlowicmdiumwprimr

ndwicwcondr.howrmdimotcommonlud

totr?howrtpird?

Tqutionvrmiictioncromnild,ndrpcillprtinntmdibcommorccibl,portbl,

tr nddnmic. Doounpopl pir mdi ttrquir

dirntn?Wtlrounpopldoinwntr

uinmdiocill? Mdimultitinpo intrtinnd

troublindilmmordvrtir.howmucouldtp

orttntionttidividd?Wicmdiumimotliltot

tdolcnturocudttntion?

Tdtprovidnumbrovnutoplorowoun

popl umdi totr. Mot tritorwrd rcildrn

rpontoturvqutionoutlindinTbl1.Rpon

totitmindictttounpoplrltliltou

otrmdiwilwtcintlviion,ndtrmotlil

tomdi multit computrctiviti. T indinrmin

rmrbltbltrououtllotnl.

T dirdtor notrw toloo towmdi r

pird. To t mor dtild loo t oun popl mdi

multitinbvior,timpntwitpiroprimr/cond-

r mdior t w w clcultd. Ti nliinclud

tlviion (includinDVDndvido),muic,rdin,vido-

m ndi computrctiviti:m, IM,mil, wbit,

omworontcomputr,ndotrcomputrctiviti.(It

is important to remember that this analysis looks at time spent pair-

ing media, regardless of whether the media were primary or secondary

activities.7)Tbl3illutrttttlviionibrtltlilmdium

tobmdimultitd.8Onlbout17%otimpntwtc-

intlviionirdwitnotrmdium.Muicndrdin

rtntltliltobmdimultitd,witbout1/3

ocmdiumtimrdwitnotrmdium.Vidom

rlitlmorliltortimwitotrmdit41%

rdtim.younpoplrmotliltocombincomputr

ctivitiwitotrmdi.emilitmotlilctivittob

mdimultitd,wit83%omiltimpntconcurrntl

witnotrmdictivit.IMndwbitrtntmot

lilcndidtormdimultitin,witlmot3/4otim

witcctivitrdwitotrmdictiviti.Computr

mr67%otirtimwitotrmdi,omworon

tcomputrr60%oittim,ndotrcomputrctivi-

tirboutlotirtimwitotrmdi.

5 . Pa I R I n g s : W h I C h M e D I a a R e U s e D T o g e T h e R ?


14/39


Tbl4-iowcmdictivitndowittimird

witotrmdictiviti. strtinwitTbl4,oncn

ttnomdictivitrnrmortn5%otlviiontim.Tiidu,inprt,totmountotimdvotdtotlviion

rmortntonotrmdium.Butivnowpopl

umititomultitwilwtcintlviion,itiurpriin

tttnndtwndonotmdimultitmorwilwtc-

inTV.Ontotrnd,tlviionimorliltobrd

witnon-mdictivitiuctinnddoincortnit

iwitmdictiviti,dicudintntctiononpirin

non-mdictivitiwitmdictiviti.

aTbl4ow,tmotlilmdipirinortlviion

imuic(5%).Wilmuicitmotlilpirin,tpropor-

tionotlviiontimdvotdtomuicilow.Nootrmdictivitrnr5%ototltlviiontim.Tmivmount

otimdvotdtotlviionmtproportionordmdi

timplincompriontootrmdi.Tti,timwittlvi-

ioniodominntttotrmdimininiicnt.awillb

n,tlviiondoplnimportntrolinmdimultitin

onotmotcommonpirinwitotrmditti,

itmtootnbonwilotrmdirinu.

Wnlitnintomuic,tnrmotliltowtctlvi-

ion,iinvolvdwitnotrmdium.Tnprcntomuic

timirdwittlviion.Computrm,IM,vidom

ndrdincccountorbout4%omuictim,butotr

mdictivitirc3%orl.

T two mot populr mdi ctiviti wil rdin r

wtcintlviion(11%ordintim)ndlitnintomuic

(10%ordintim).Otrmdictivitidonotpproc

5%ordintim.Itinotrdtoiminrdintimrd

witmuicortlviion.Rdiniminlilpirdwit

tlviion(durincommrcil,orimplmonitorinTVrtr

tnocuinullttntiononit)ndmuic(wicdirnt

norinput).Itilliltttnwillrdwilont

computror plin intrctiv vidom. Not urpriinl,

monindividulcomputrctiviti,rdinimotcommonl

pirdwitomworon tcomputr. IM,otrcomputrctiviti,ndmrboutqulproportionotimwit

rdin.Prpounpoplitinrontotcomputrwit

booorminopn,witcintoitwil,ormpl,wit-

inornIMrponormprtnr.

Wn plin vidom (Tbl 4d) or computr m

(Tbl4),ounpoplrmotlliltorttimwit

tlviionndmuic.Botmdicnbmonitordnddont

rquirullnmntolln.Wiltnplcomputr

mwiluinotrmdi,trlittlotirvido-

mtimwitnmdiotrtnTVndmuic.Itiintr-

tintttlviionitmotcommonpirinorvidom.Tiutttounpoplwoplvidomndwtc

TVttmtimritrplinnd-ldvidomor

vtwotlviion,ondvotdtovidomndtotrto

tlviioncontnt.gminiviul,uditorndintnlintr-

ctiv,trormorconumintnmototrmdi.

Tnndtwnrmotlilto uvrlmdiimul-

tnoulwilontcomputr.Intrtinl,wil41%o

vidomtim imdi multitd,67%o computrm

timimdimultitd.younpoplpndboutt m

proportion o timwtcinTV ndlitninto muic wil

min,wit tdirnc bin ttwilplincomputr

m,ounpoplrmorliltobpndintimIMin

nddoinotrtinontcomputr(cotoccount

or8%ocomputrmintim).Itwouldbintrtinto

now wtoun popl mnb ttrmotr computr

ctiviti in ti contt. Bcu o ccibilit to otr

computrctiviti,plrr lliltopcluivttn-

tiontotcomputrm,lndincrdnctotpoti

tttcomputrimultitinttion.

TAbLE 3. Of ALL pRIMARY AND SECONDARY TIME SpENT wITH pROpORTION THAT IS ALSO SpENT wITH ANOTHER Of THESE MEDIA(SUMMARY Of TAbLES A-I)

TV 17%

Music 33

Reading 35

Videogames 41

Other Computer 49

Homework on the Computer 60

Computer Games 67

IM 74

Websites 74

Email 83

*Proportions are sums calculated at the aggregate level.

TAbLE A. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT wITH TELEvISION,pROpORTION Of TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

TV/DVD/Videos/DVR Proportion of Time spentTV time

Total TV/DVD/Video (primary and secondary) across week 18.91

Pairing TV and Music 5% 0.98

Pairing TV and Videogames 3% 0.50

Pairing TV and Reading 2% 0.41

Pairing TV and IM 2% 0.33

Pairing TV and Computer Games 2% 0.32

Pairing TV and Homework on the Computer 1% 0.22

Pairing TV and Other Computer 1% 0.17

Pairing TV and Email 1% 0.14

Pairing TV and Websites 1% 0.12

Pairing TV and any other medium 17% 3.20


15/39

K A I S E R F A m I L y F O U N D A T I O N 13

Inordrtortimwitcomputrm,mdictivit

tobonttllundrtctorowitcin,

witt poibl cption o litninto muic (pcill imoundctrturndo).

Wildoinomworontcomputr,tnortwni

motliltortttimwittwovoritrcrtionlctivi-

ti: muic(15%ottim)ndtlviion(12%).howvr,

IM(8%oomwortimontcomputr),rdin(6%o

omwortimontcomputr),ndloointwbit(5%)

rntmotliltobpirdwitdoinomworont

computr. Wntnrontcomputrdoinomwor,

tdvotirmountotimwitcinbtwnotrcom-

putrctiviti.

Intntminittpoctivitttiilmnt-d,ndtrorwouldmliltobmultitd.ain,

muic(20%)ndtlviion(17%)rtmdictivitimot

liltortimwitIM,butotrcomputrctivitiuc

omwor on t computr (8%), computr m (8%),

wbit (7%), nd mil (6%) r lorquntIM pirin.

Intntminiprticulrlintrtin,bcuwititpop-

upwindow, itctivlintrruptnotr computr ctivit,

minitrdtoinor.Itinoturpriintt3/4oIMtim

irdwitotrmdictiviti.

emilollowimilrpttrntoIM,butpirdtimiprd

mucmorvnlcronrroctiviti.acomprbl

mllrproportionomiltimidvotdtomuic(14%)nd

tlviion(16%),ndmortootrcomputrctivitiuc

IM(13%),otrcomputr(12%),computrm(9%),om-

worontcomputr(8%),ndwbit(6%).Comprdto

otrcomputrctiviti,milrltimwitnon-com-

putrbdctiviti,utinttprpounpoplr

litlmorocudontcomputrwnmiliinvolvd.

Viitinwbititonlctivitttipirdmorotn

wit notrcomputrctivit(IM or15%o wbit tim)

tnwitTV(12%)ormuic(12%).Computrm(10%)ndomworontcomputr(9%)rotrcomputrctivi-

tittrivlttmountotim.WbitndIMpprto

bnturlpirin.Indd,lotndintntmnr

vincluddlintounnwbitorrticlinnintnt

m(Lnrttl.,2005).Itpprcommonoroun

popltodicuwbitcontntwitrindviIM.

Tintctionotirport(Tjulinact:howDoCor,

etinndsociliinfitwitMdiU?)ilitt id

ttwnounpoplrwtcinTV primrctivit,

trnotuulluinotrmdi,butwntruin

vrlmdiimultnoul,onotmililtobTV.Inddition,tcomputrmrmormultitinpromotr

bprovidintopportunittodovrltintonc.T

morit o tim pnt on n individul computr ctivit i

rd wit otr mdi ctiviti. T dir dt dicud

bovrinorcturvrpondntlrportbout com-

putrmultitin(39%o712trdrrportdttmot

ottimtront computr, trdoin mor tn

onctivitttim).Tcomputrrolin otrinmdi

multitinmwlltblidivnitnwprncont

mdicn.

TAbLE b. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT wITH MUSIC, pROpORTIONOf TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Music Proportion of Time spentmusic time

Total Music (primary and secondary) across week 9.57

Pairing Music and TV 10% 0.98

Pairing Music and Videogames 4% 0.42

Pairing Music and IM 4% 0.38

Pairing Music and Reading 4% 0.36

Pairing Music and Computer Games 4% 0.35

Pairing Music and Homework on the Computer 3% 0.28

Pairing Music and Other Computer 2% 0.15

Pairing Music and Email 1% 0.12

Pairing Music and Websites 1% 0.11

Pairing Music and any other medium 33% 3.16

TAbLE C. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT READING, pROpORTIONOf TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Reading Proportion of Time spentreading time

Total Reading (primary and secondary) across week 3.63

Pairing Reading and TV 11% 0.41

Pairing Reading and Music 10% 0.36

Pairing Reading and Homework on the Computer 3% 0.11

Pairing Reading and Videogames 3% 0.10

Pairing Reading and Computer Games 2% 0.08

Pairing Reading and Other Computer 2% 0.07

Pairing Reading and IM 2% 0.07

Pairing Reading and Email 1% 0.03

Pairing Reading and Websites 1% 0.03

Pairing Reading and any other medium 35% 1.26


16/39


TAbLE D. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT pLAYING vIDEOGAMES,pROpORTION Of TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Videogames Proportion of Time spentvideogame time

Total Videogames (primary and secondary) across week 2.96

Pairing Videogames and TV 17% 0.50

Pairing Videogames and Music 14% 0.42

Pairing Videogames and Reading 3% 0.10

Pairing Videogames and Computer Games 2% 0.06

Pairing Videogames and Homework on the Computer 2% 0.05

Pairing Videogames and Other Computer 1% 0.04

Pairing Videogames and Email 1% 0.02

Pairing Videogames and IM 1% 0.02

Pairing Videogames and Websites 0% 0.01

Pairing Videogames and any other medium 41% 1.23

TAbLE f. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT DOING HOMEwORK ON THECOMpUTER, pROpORTION SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Homework on the Computer Proportion of TimeHW computer time spent

Total HW Computer (primary and secondary) across week 1.87

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Music 15% 0.28

Pairing Homework on the Computer and TV 12% 0.22

Pairing Homework on the Computer and IM 8% 0.15

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Reading 6% 0.11

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Websites 5% 0.09

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Other Computer 4% 0.08

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Email 4% 0.07

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Computer Games 3% 0.06

Pairing Homework on the Computer and Videogames 3% 0.05

Pairing Homework on the Computer and any other medium 60% 1.11

TAbLE G. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT INSTANT MESSAGING,pROpORTION Of TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

IM Proportion of Time spentIM time

Total IM (primary and secondary) across week 1.96

Pairing IM and Music 20% 0.38

Pairing IM and TV 17% 0.33

Pairing IM and Computer Games 8% 0.15

Pairing IM and Homework on the Computer 8% 0.15

Pairing IM and Websites 7% 0.15

Pairing IM and Email 6% 0.11

Pairing IM and Other Computer 5% 0.09

Pairing IM and Reading 3% 0.07

Pairing IM and Videogames 1% 0.02

Pairing IM and any other medium 74% 1.45

TAbLE H. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT EMAILING, pROpORTION OfTIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Email Proportion of Time spentemail time

Total Email (primary and secondary) across week 0.88

Pairing Email and TV 16% 0.14

Pairing Email and Music 14% 0.12

Pairing Email and IM 13% 0.11

Pairing Email and Other Computer 12% 0.11

Pairing Email and Computer Games 9% 0.08

Pairing Email and Homework on the Computer 8% 0.07

Pairing Email and Websites 6% 0.05

Pairing Email and Reading 4% 0.03

Pairing Email and Videogames 2% 0.02

Pairing Email and any other medium 83% 0.73

TAbLE I. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT vISITING wEbSITES,pROpORTION Of TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Websites Proportion of Time spentwebsites time

Total Websites (primary and secondary) across week 0.97

Pairing Websites and IM 15% 0.15

Pairing Websites and TV 12% 0.12

Pairing Websites and Music 12% 0.11

Pairing Websites and Computer Games 10% 0.09

Pairing Websites and Homework on the Computer 9% 0.09

Pairing Websites and Other Computer 7% 0.07

Pairing Websites and Email 5% 0.05

Pairing Websites and Reading 3% 0.03

Pairing Websites and Videogames 1% 0.01

Pairing Websites and any other medium 74% 0.71

TAbLE E. Of TOTAL wEEKLY TIME SpENT pLAYING COMpUTER GAMES,pROpORTION Of TIME SpENT pAIRING IT wITH OTHER MEDIA

Computer Games Proportion of Time spentcomputer game time

Total Computer Games (primary and secondary) across week 2.04

Pairing Computer Games and Music 17% 0.35

Pairing Computer Games and TV 16% 0.32

Pairing Computer Games and Other Computer 8% 0.16

Pairing Computer Games and IM 8% 0.15

Pairing Computer Games and Websites 5% 0.09

Pairing Computer Games and Reading 4% 0.08

Pairing Computer Games and Email 4% 0.08

Pairing Computer Games and Videogames 3% 0.06

Pairing Computer Games and Homework on the Computer 3% 0.06

Pairing Computer Games and any other medium 67% 1.37


17/39


The Computer as a Gateway to Diverse Activities

OncouldruttindividulcomputrctivitiliIMor

mildonotdrvtob conidrdqultomdiint

uctlviion. Intd,tcomputrouldbconidrd wol, mdium inndoitl. howvr,wnt

computr i conidrd wol, mdium, tim pnt

doinmultipltinontcomputri,inct,wipdout.

formpli,durinonlour,ounpronrportd

omworontcomputrprimrctivitndIM

condrctivit,cotowouldbcountdcomputr

timbutnotmultitintim.Wnccomputrctivit

iconidrd individulmdium(intprviouction),

ttmlouricountdtimpntmdimultitin

IM ndcomputr-bd omwor. T ditinction btwn

t computr mdium nd t computr tw toindividulcomputrctivititurnouttobnimportnton,

mpiin tcommonn o doin multipltinont

computrimultnoul.

Wntcomputrimindmdium,itrmbltr-

ditionlmdiucmuicndrdinintrmoowmuc

oittimirdwitotrmdi.howvr,wncomputr

ctivitirmindindividull,qultotrditionlmdi

ctivitiuctlviionviwinndmuiclitnin,tloo

notinlitrditionlmdi. Computrctivitirrnd

wtmotmdimultitdctiviti,rintmorit

otirtimwitotrmdi.T lin btwn mdi r bcomin mor nd mor

blurrd.apoplcnutcomputrormormdictivi-

ti,ucwtcintlviionprorm,itwillbcommor

vidnttttcomputrimrltwtoctiviti.Wit

ti dinition com t rlition tt wt mttr i t

ctivit,nottpltorm.howvr,vinucnclcticmi

octivitivilblononpltormvrclrcton

mdimultitin.


18/39


19/39

fIGURE . pROpORTION Of TIME, fOR EACH pRIMARY MEDIUM,DEvOTED TO DOING NOTHING ELSE (SUMMARY fROM TAbLES A-K)T

i ction plor ow otn, wn oun popl

primaryctivitiuinmdi,trlodoinom-

tinlotr tn mdit t m tim.Unli

tprviouction, tinli onlconidr timwit t

mdiumwnitwdintdtprimrctivittoun

pronwninintttim.

Onotmotintrtinindintodowittbncomultitin,tti,wntnndtwnconcntrtoll

onprticulrmdictivit.Loointfiur2,oncn

wicmdictivitirltliltobrdwitnotr

ctivit.9 Tlviionndvidomrt lt lilprimr

mdictivititobmultitdwitnotrctiviti.fit-

ivprcnt obotprimrtlviionndprimrvidom

tim i dvotd to notin l. alo omwt urpriinl

ivn tod bulitl (nd ituitbilit bcround

ctivit)litnintomuicwlitdprimrmdictivit

witoutncondrctiviti42%ot tim. emili t

motlilmdictivittobmultitd;onl22%omil

timidvotdtonotinl.supportinindindicud

bov,llcomputrctiviticonrtinbintmotlil

tobmultitd,wittltmountotimdvotdtodoin

notinl.

Ovrlotlviiontim(primrmdium)idvotd

tonotinl(Tbl5).Tntmotpopulrctivit

itin;ounpoplrporttin14%ottimttt

wtctlviion. Ti indinlndupportto t bodo

rrc linin tlviion viwin wit obit (andron

& k.e., 2006; Robinon, 1999; Robinon, 2001). Ti

proportion oTV tim pnt tin i mor tn doubl t

ntmotpopulrctivit,omwor,t6%otlviiontim.

Cor,tlinontpon,litnintomuic,computrtim

ndotrunidntiidctiviticr4%otlviiontim

wntlviionitprimrctivit.Indd,ionwrtoum

tmdiv.non-mdictiviti,onwouldtttlviioni

rmorliltobrdwitnon-mdictiviti(28%)tn

witotrmdictiviti(13%,endnot9).Prpwn

6 . T h e j U g g l I n g a C T: h o W D o C h o R e s ,e aT I n g , a n D s o C I a l I z I n g f I T W I T h M e D I a U s e ?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Videogames

TV/DVD/Videos

Music

Reading

ComputerGames

Websites

IM

TotalComputer

Homeworkonthe

Computer

OtherComputer

Email

55%

55%

42%

38%

37%

37%

3

6%

35%

35%

34%

22%


20/39


tlviionitprimrmdium,tti,wnonitrintoollowtorlin,itiimplmordiiculttoprocdditionl

contnt,unlitidurincommrcil.activitilitin

ndcorrwll-prcticdroutinttrquirlittlconitiv

ocu,ndrprctpirinortlviion.

Muicprimrmdiumibitonnim.fort-two

prcntotimttmuicitprimrmdium,ititonl

ctivittti,ountrrportdoinnotinl.Im

otnittinndnoinmuicwitoutdoinntinl

rrminicnto tpr-tlviionr. howvr,tnrport

dointirtrrquntlwnmuicitirprimrmdium.

Prpounpopldotillpndtimlinontirbd,tr-

inttcilinndlitnintomuic.Intrtinl,wnt

rnotocuincluivlonmuic,trporttttctivit

ttrnrtmotmountotimiomtinl,(14%

prcntoprimrmuictim)prumblnotmdictivit

(touoncnnotbur).Muicpprtobomwt

uniqucintilurotrponoptiontocpturwt

itiounpoplrpirinwitmuic.Prptotr

ctivitcouldbninoutwitrind.Rrcown

tt muici ocil mdium,botor it u inocilitu-

tion nd oddr orconvrtionndidntit(Critnon

& Robrt,1998). Trnporttion ctiviti (drivin, wlin,ridintbu)mitloccountoromototrctivi-

ti. Tourntmotlilcondrctivitiwnmuic

itprimrmdictivitromwornotontcomputr

(9%oprimrmuictim),tlinontpon(8%),tin

(8%) ndcor(6%). Non-mdi ctiviti domint c-

ondrctivitiwnmuicitprimrctivit.Non-mdi

ctivitimup32%omuictim(notincludint14%o

timdvotdtoomtinlwiclililonon-mdi)

vru21%oprimrmuictimdvotdtocondrmdi

ctiviti. Muic portbilit, tpoibilito vin itlon

contntl, m lp to plin w non-mdi ctiviti r

commoncompnion.Muiccnbcompnionwilotr

mdi mnotb blto, ivn portbilit contrint. alo,

muic,unlitlviionndrdin,donotrquirviulocu

ndtimplintiincidncotomtinl

ctor. Prp wn t primr ctivit i muic, oun

poplruinittocomplmntocilctiviti,ortcoo

condrnon-mdictivitittrquirmorconitivocu

(..buildinmodlirpln,plincrdorminwlr)

wicrnotincluddintlitopoiblctiviti.

TAbLE A. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY TELEvISION TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

TV time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary TV (and DVD/Videos) 16.56

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 55% 9.11

Eating 14% 2.29

Homework not on the Computer 6% 0.96

Phone 4% 0.71

Chores 4% 0.68

Other (not computer) 4% 0.68

Music 4% 0.68

All Computer 4% 0.65

Reading 2% 0.34

Videogames 2% 0.34

IM 1% 0.24

Computer Games 1% 0.17

Homework on the Computer 1% 0.13

Email 1% 0.11

Websites 1% 0.10

Other Computer 1% 0.10

TAbLE b. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY MUSIC TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

music time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Music 7.43

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 42% 3.11



Eating 8% 0.62

Phone 8% 0.59


Chores 6% 0.48

Videogames 4% 0.31

TV/DVD/Videos 4% 0.31

Reading 4% 0.28

IM 3% 0.23


Email 1% 0.09



Websites 1% 0.05


21/39


Wn tn rd (orun), t lorport tt condrctivititndtobnon-mdirltd.Mucottimtr

inotinl.Tirt-itprcntoprimrrdintimi

dvotd to notinl. Primrrdinr ittim wit

omwornotoncomputr(14%),tin(11%)ndotr

ctiviti, omtin l (9%). T mot lil condr

mdi ctiviti or oun rdr r tim ont computr

(5%) nd litnin tomuic (4%). Ovrll, 33% o primr

rdintimi dvotdto non-mdicondr ctiviti nd

14%tomdictiviti.Intcordin,itinoturpri-

inttcondrctivitirmorvilnon-mdiocud.

Rdinrquiriniicntconitivocund tnon-mdi

optionlitdrlliltondullttntion.

Vidom nd tlviion rn it in t proportion

otirplinorviwintimttidvotdtonotinl

(55%).Tiindinrvlocuonvidommorinlin

wit wt Robrt t. l (2005) nticiptd, plinin tir

cluion o vidom rom t o urv qution bout

mdi multitin (Tbl 1 on p 8). Vidom r

tonnon-computrctivitorwicmditimoutwi

non-mditimincondrctiviti.Tmotlilcond-

rctivitwilplinvidomiwtcintlviion(9%oprimrvidomtim).amntiondrlir,tiut

t u o ndld vidom or multipl tlviion t in

tmloction.etin(8%oprimrvidomtim)nd

muic(6%)rtntmotlilctivititobrdwit

vidom.Ovrll,16%oprimrvidomtimidvotd

tonon-mdictivitind22%tomdictiviti.Itidiicult

to imin prormin omo t non-mdi ctiviti, uc

cor,durinvidomplinctplriquitlitr-

lltidtotm.Inddition,tintrctivitrquirdb

vidomlimitmultitinpoibiliti.

Computrctivitirtmotmultitdctivitiinti

tud nd mot o t tim dvotd to condr ctiviti i

ovrwlminl mdi-bd (wic m tm quit dir-

ntromTV,muicorrdin).alittlovrtirdottim

dvotdtomotcomputrctivitiidvotdtonotinl.

Tmotconitntcondrctivitwilontcomputri

notrcomputrctivitormultiplotrcomputrctiviti

(btwn21%nd38%oprimrctivittim,dpndinon

tcomputr ctivit, idvotd tonotrcomputrctivit,

scondrallComputr).atrotrcomputrctiviti,t

TAbLE C. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY READING TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

reading time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Reading 2.14

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 38% 0.82


Eating 11% 0.23


Chores 6% 0.12


Music 4% 0.08


Phone 3% 0.06


Videogames 1% 0.03

IM 1% 0.02

Email 1% 0.02



Websites 1% 0.01

TAbLE D. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY vIDEOGAME TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

videogame time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Videogames 1.88

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 55% 1.04


Eating 8% 0.16

Music 6% 0.11

Reading 4% 0.07



Phone 3% 0.05


Chores 2% 0.03


Email 1% 0.01


IM 0% 0.01

Websites 0% 0.01



22/39


ctivittticonitntlntinlininproportionotimi

muic(btwn7%nd19%oprimrcomputrtim).Otrpopulrcondrctivitiwntprimrctivit

iontcomputrvrbwttcomputribinudor.

Wntcomputriudor:

computr m, populr condr ctiviti (tr totl

computrtimndmuic)rTV(11%),IM(7%)ndotr

computr(7%).Pon,tinndomwornotontcom-

putrcrnr6%omtim.

IM,populrcondrctiviti(trtotlcomputrtim

ndmuic)rwbit(10%),TV(9%),ndmil(8%).

mil,populrcondrctiviti(trtotlcomputrtim

ndmuic) rtin,TV,ndotrcomputrctiviti,c

rin11% omil tim. Tnprcnt omil tim ilo

rdwitttlpon.

wbit,IMrtlrtproportionotim(9%)tr

totlcomputrndmuic.

Itividntttwnounpoplumdi,trqunt-

lninvrlcondrctiviti;tiiprticulrltru

wntucomputr.Tclrindictionortiittt

ummdproportiono timpnton condrctivititotl

mortn100%ortwootcomputrctiviti.Rpondnt

wrdtoindictwtltwrdoinwnnin

intirprimrmdictivit,ndto circlmnnwr

tndd.Tiutttpcillwntwrontcomputr,ounpoplromtimdoinmortntwo

tinttim(tprimrmdictivit,condrctivit,

ndnotrctivit).Tiimcrtinlitwittpictur

otnportrdbmdiotnrittinttcomputr

oppinbtwnomwor,IM,wbit,tc.wittTVor

ommuiconintbcround.Itlolndmorcrdncto

tidotcomputrmultitinttion.

Ovrll,ounpoplrmotliltooculltirttn-

tion (do notin l)on t mdium tndwntr

wtcintlviionorplinvidom,ndrltlilto

ocutirttntioncluivlwntruincomputr.

Tilvlorltivocuwlooundmondultdurin

tlviionviwin(Ppprtl.,2004).Trrcrclld

tlviiont800-poundorillbcuoitdominnc

primrmdium,botintrmo timndttntion,butlo

bcuoitprvlnccondrmdium(Ppprtl.,

2004).Tiindinoldorounpopl,witmuictin

clocond.

TAbLE E. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY COMpUTER GAME TIME SHAREDwITH SECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

computer game time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Computer Games 1.44

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 37% 0.54


Music 19% 0.27


IM 7% 0.11


Phone 6% 0.08

Eating 6% 0.08


Websites 5% 0.07

Reading 4% 0.06

Videogames 4% 0.05

Email 4% 0.05


Chores 2% 0.03


TAbLE f. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY COMpUTER-bASED HOMEwORK TIMESHARED wITH SECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of homework Time

on the computer time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Homework on the Computer 1.28

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 35% 0.44



Music 11% 0.14

IM 7% 0.09


Eating 6% 0.08

Websites 6% 0.08

Reading 6% 0.08

Phone 5% 0.07

Email 5% 0.06




Chores 2% 0.03

Videogames 2% 0.03


23/39


WnwtcinTV,litnintomuicorrdin,non-mdi

ctivitidomintcondrctiviti.howvr,wnontcomputr,or,tolrtnt,wnplinvidom,mdi

ctivitidomintcondrctiviti.futurrrcould

mintnturomdimultitindurincomputru.

Itiwortmininwtrtrcoriluoro

imultnou u. for intnc,t multitin o computr

ctivitiililrilprocwitcinbtwnctiviti,

wiltmultitinonon-computrmdiucmuicm

bmorimultnou.

Computrvmdmultitinindd,tv

ncourd it. T rquntpirino intnt minnd

wbitioodmpl.Tcomputrllowounpopl

tolootwbitndcommunictviIMwitintm

viulpc.Ontotrnd,IMinotcommonpirin

witTV,wiltini.Onctlviioncontntbcommor

prvlntontcomputr,itililttounpoplwillcom-

munictviIMdurintnturlbrintlviiondilou.

Tlviion,tnd-loncrnlcinintrctivcpbiliti

(ortmorit),dicourmdimultitin.

TAbLE G. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY INSTANT MESSAGING TIME SHAREDwITH SECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of TimeIM time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Instant Messaging 1.06

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 36% 0.39


Music 15% 0.16

Websites 10% 0.11


Email 8% 0.09

Eating 7% 0.08


Phone 6% 0.07

Homework on the Computer 5% 0.06Computer Games 4% 0.05

Reading 4% 0.05

Chores 3% 0.03



Videogames 1% 0.01

TAbLE H. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY EMAIL TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Timeemail time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Email 0.28

Secondary Activity:


Nothing 22% 0.06

Music 12% 0.03

Eating 11% 0.03



Phone 10% 0.03


Websites 8% 0.02

IM 7% 0.02Homework not on the Computer 6% 0.02

Reading 5% 0.01

Chores 4% 0.01



Videogames 3% 0.01


24/39


TAbLE I. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY wEbSITE TIME SHARED wITHSECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

website time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Websites 0.43

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 37% 0.16


Music 14% 0.06

IM 9% 0.04


Email 6% 0.03

Eating 4% 0.02




Phone 4% 0.02


Reading 3% 0.01


Chores 2% 0.01

Videogames 1% 0.01

TAbLE K. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY TOTAL COMpUTER TIME SHAREDwITH SECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

all computer time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Any Computer 5.77

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 35% 2.03


Music 13% 0.75

Reading 8% 0.46



Email 7% 0.38


Eating 6% 0.34

Websites 6% 0.34


Phone 6% 0.32

IM 5% 0.31

Videogames 5% 0.27


Chores 3% 0.15


TAbLE j. pROpORTION Of pRIMARY OTHER COMpUTER TIME SHAREDwITH SECONDARY ACTIvITIES

Proportion of Time

other computer time spent

Total Weekly Time with Primary Other Computer 1.29

Secondary Activity:

Nothing 34% 0.44



Music 7% 0.09

Email 6% 0.08



IM 5% 0.06

Phone 5% 0.06

Eating 4% 0.06

Reading 4% 0.05

Websites 4% 0.05


Chores 3% 0.04

Videogames 3% 0.04



25/39

f

or mn oun popl, livin in tod mdi world

dmnd tt t ncroni t. Mot tn nd

twn pnd t lt om o tir mdi tim rd

btwnmortnonmdium.amontowodotltommdimultitin,ounpopldvotboutqurtro

tirmditimtomortnonmdium.Ontotrnd,

trpprtobolidproportionoounpopl,round

1/5o8-to18-r-old,wopndvrlittl,in,otir

mditimwitmortnonmdium.

Tlviion10 rmindominnt intliv ooun popl.

Dpit rt dl o p bout ow nw tcnoloi r

cnintcomdiorounpopl,tlviionrmin

cntrl.Tlviiontuprmortimtnnotrmdium.

Notonliitrvolumotimimportnt,butlown

tlviionitprimrmdium,ititocu(tti,itrvrlittloittimwitotrmdiorwitotrctivitiin

nrl). Wil t impct o nwrmdi iiniicnt, t

importncotlviionintlivoounpoplouldb

nitr undrtimtd nordownpld. Itwillb intrtin

to,ttlviionndcomputrbcommorintrtd,

wtrtlviion dominnc willdimini, itr in timor

inocu.Onctlviionprormbcommorrdilvil-

bl on t computr, t r lo mor rdil vilbl or

multitin.

Twomorindinmrromtirrcrrdint

pirinomdi.firt,itividntttwnwtcinTV,

oun pron inotuullmdimultitin(indd, i l

liltobmultitintnwnuinnotrmdium),

but wn ounproni mdimultitin tri lil

tlviioninvolvd.

scond,computrctivitirtmotmultitdctiviti

intitudnd,unlititutionwittlviion,muicor

rdin,motocomputrtimdvotdtocondrctivitii

ovrwlminlmdi-bd.Wntnnincomputr

ctivitucIMorwburin,tpndtmoritott

timlouinotrmdi,pcillonotrctivitiont

computr.Twounpoplutcomputrpprtob

vrdirntromowtumortrditionlmdi.Wn

twtcTV,litntomuicorrd,non-mdictivitiuctinnddoincordomintwntrninin

condrctiviti.howvr,wntrontcomputr,

tuullrdoinomtinl,ndmdictivitidomi-

ntcondrctiviti.Inct,ortnuintcomputr,

tmotconitntcondrctivitinotrcomputrctiv-

it. T computr trul ppr to b mdi multitin

ttion,ndmbtltprtlrponiblornincrin

mdimultitin.

Wil otn prt to mdi multitin, trditionl mdi

uctlviionndmuicdonotpprtootrmdimul-

titin, wr t computr pprto b riou mdimultitinpromotr.11

Tirrcloutttomounpoplrmor

liltomdimultittnotr.Crtinlmorrrc

i ndd to undrtnd t nunc o liliood to mdi

multit, but t currntindin cn uidu inour rc

ormordtildnwr.younpoplworpodtot

motmdi,towovcomputrndcntlviion

romit,toworntionr,towolivinil

TV-orintdouold,ndirl(mortnbo)rllmor

liltomdimultit.Tcrctriticmtopointto

twoctorttmdrivmdimultitin:nd,ormoti-

vtion,tomdimultit(toitinvrtintwnttodo),

ndtopportunittomdimultit.

T importnc o opportunit in mdi multitin cn-

notbmpidnou.Invrnli,topportunit

tmmrn importntctorbotinprdictinmdi

multitinndplininpoibilitiorpirinmdi.T

computritmotmdimultitdmdiumbcuitor

mn opportuniti or mdi multitin, bot witin itl

wllcrootrpltorm(..TVintbcround).

7 . C o n C l U s I o n


26/39


Tmirtionomdiintoounpoplbdroom(Robrt,

2000;Robrt&for,2004;Robrttl.,2005;Robrttl.,

1999)ililinprtrponiblormdimultitinbcu

it incr t opportunit to u mor tn on mdium t tim. amdi dvic row innumbr nd bcom mor

portbl,opportunitiormdimultitinrlilonlto

incr.

Intinin bout tconcpt oopportunit,tou,w

ouldnotlimittdicuiontowicmdirvilbl.W

mutlootturolndtmdiumproprtiwitin

tconcpto opportunit. Tti, i tuservilblor

mdimultitin(i..notcompltlocudont)nd

willtmdiproprtillowit?

Norrcocudpciicllontctomodrn-

d mdi multitin, but rrc ultimtl ut ttbrincpcitiinitndttntiontoontdimini

notriintroducd(jut,tl,2001).Butwtitbrodr

implictionomdimultitin?

eprtcrtinlblivttiounpoplmdimultit

nddooromnrl,nwilldpt(slimn,2006).

Butrrcutttcnwillppnnotutovrtim,

trounturllction,butinonownlitim.Contrrto

rlbrinrrc,nuroloiclworovrtltwdcd

owntttbrincnbdonu.Tpru

itorloitbncoindtolpplinnuroloicldpt-

tiontrououtli(Dimond,1988).Dndrit,ttniononrvcllttrcivinputromotrnrvcll,incr

ordcrinnumbrbdonu.Rrcowntt

niml, wll popl,inbitinnricdnvironmnt,

toprovidinmortimultinprinctncontrolnvi-

ronmnt, princ mor brin rowt (Mommd t l.,

2002). T nuroloicllitrturllowinormd pcultion

bouttimpctocivmdimultitin.Iticlrtt

tbrindptbdonu.Nuroloicllitrturut

tttprrontlcort,orBrodmnnar10,irponibl

orndlinmultitin.Inounpoplwodvotrt

dlotimtomdimultitin,couldwpcttprron-

tlcortto bwllndowd,wiltrwouldb wn

introtbrinrponiblorotrctivitirquirin

tnddconcntrtionucclculuproo,pintinnintri-

ctcn,ortintsaT?Tti,prpllttimpnt

mdimultitindvloptprrontlcortttpn

ootrro tbrin. Itipoibl,owvr,ttwitll

tmultitinprcticourbrinwilldptndbbltobl-

ncbotmultitinndtnddconcntrtion.Commnt

ucmoncnproclltinormtiononcrntonc,

butIcnonlocuonontinrillutrtivonuroloicl

dpttionorctwor.Mnounpoplbrinrwll

prcticd tmninmultiplindo inormtion invirtul

imultnit. In ti mdi-v world, it i lil ttbrin

ttrmordpttmdimultitinwillbpdlonndtcnwillbnturlllctd.atrll,inorm-

tionipowr,ndioncnprocmorinormtionlltonc,

prponcnbmorpowrul.

Onvoritpcultionitttodmultitinlitl

lv no tim or rlction, no tim or tout or crtivit

(Broo,2001).aonrportrputit:Wnowlivndwor

onIntrnttim,wicmtobcombintionodor

livdccordintoMoorLw(Md,2003).Ttid,mdi

multitinipnomnonttlilwillnotdippr,nd

owmuttrtoundrtnditwllitct.

T compliction wrout b mdi multitin ri numbroqutionortowownttorcounpopl

witimportntm. Ioun popl mdi ttntioni

dividd,owcntbrcd?Willmplcdindir-

ntmdivntullbborbd?Willmdinrpproc

bnoutoovrcomdividdttntion?Cnultr-multitr

vrbrcd?

Ti rport ut crtc t urc o t compliti

involvdwitmdimultitin.Itprovidomprliminr

uidnc or rcin oun popl in ti nw mdi lnd-

cp.firt,itiimportnttorlittnotvronimdi

multitin ll o t tim. Motoun popl pndomtimmdimultitinndtowodopnd,onvr,

qurtrotirmditimwitmultiplmdi.Ontotr

nd,ntionr,toowntobmorlilton

inribvior(ncinrtrndobinrcdwit

poitivm),rmorliltomdimultit.scond,

ommdi,tltornow,mtortinocubttrtnot-

r.Tlviion,towicounpopldvottmotmount

otim,iltliltobrdwitotrmdi,ndtu

rminoodoptionorrcinounpopl.Mint-

rtdintotnrrtivrlliltnPsatollvictimto

multitin.anriticpprocttinvolvmultiplmdi

ndtounpopltlin(inpron,vittmin,IM,

ormil)loitwitowounpoplumdi.finll,t

bttimtorcounpronwitmiwntr

rdorit.TIntrntornidlwtominorm-

tionvilblwnounproniinitndintt

cnrio,tinormtionwonttlotintmdimultitin

mdn.


27/39

etimtin tim wit mdi (indd, tim dvotd to n-

tin), prticulrl mon cildrn, i compl t. ec

pproc, nd t tcnicliti nd loitic o implmnt-

in it, brin dirnt problm nd bnit, nd mor otn

tn not produc dirnt rult (andron & fild, 1991;

andron,fild,Collin,Lorc,&Ntn,1985;grnbrtl.,2005;Lron,1989;Ppprtl.,2004;Robinon,1985).

a numbr o colr(Comtoc & scrrr, 1999; Pppr t

l., 2004; Robrt & for, 2004; Robinon, 1997) provid

dtildccountotintricciomurintim,ndmor

pciicll, tim uin mdi. accurt murmnt o tim

pntwitmdii intricblintrtwindwitmurmnt

omdimultitin.Noinltudcnprovidtdinitiv

nwr toowmuctim ounpoplpnd wit mdior

mdimultitin,butintd,providbtpoibltimt

ivntmtodoloud.

Tcurrnttudnldtcollctdin2003/2004.Toriinltudconitdo twoprt:1) ntionllrprnt-

tiv mpl o 2032 3rd2t rdr (8- to18-r-old)wo

rpondd to writtn qutionnir in bout mn ct

otirmdibvior,nd2)l-lctdub-mplo694

rpondntwolocompltdvn-ddirotirmdi

u.12

Sampling

Turvmplwobtinduintrtiid,two-t

ntionlprobbilitmpl.att1,coolwrrndoml

lctdromlitopproimtl80,000public,privt,nd

procilcoolintU.s.att2,rdndclwitin

rd wr rndoml lctd to prticipt. T mplin

dinprmitovrmplinbvrioucritri(..,rdlvl,

rc/tnicit,tc.).TitudincludnovrmploBlc

nd hipnic tudnt, nblin numbr o btwn roup

comprionmondirntrcil/tnicroup.

Dt rom t primr urv r witd to nur

ntionllrprnttivmplo tudnt. Witrbd

ondt romt Ntionl Cntr oreduction sttiticnd

romtU.s.BuruotCnu.Twitinprocdur

controlditributionotudntbrd,rionotcountr,

nturo ridnc locl(urbn,uburbn,rurl), ndr,nd

rc/tnicit.

studnt wo compltd t bicqutionnir wr lo

invitd to p vn-d, mdi u dir. Ti procdur

producdl-lctd(tunon-rprnttiv)dirmplo694tudnt.Bcutmplwl-lctd,tdirdt

ortnlintipprrnotwitd.

Survey Administration

Rpondntcompltd l-dminitrdqutionnirin

tirclroom.Qutionnirrquirdpproimtl40min-

uttocomplt.Dirntrdinbilitiinounrndoldr

tudntrultdintuolitldirntqutionniror

3rd6trdrnd7t12trdr,dolcntrpondinto

morqutiontnounrcildrn.Trindintrviwrwr

prntincclroomtonwrnqutionndproviditnctotudntindd.

T urv intrumnt w compltl nonmou;

rpondnt rturnd qutionnir in ld nvlop.

Questionnaire Items

Qutionnirwrdvlopdtonblcompltdcrip-

tionoU.s.ounpoplmdinvironmntndbvior

poiblivnclroomtimcontrint.

Itminvritopctrltintocildrnmdi

nvironmntnduwrincluddinturv.gnrltopic

rinclud:mdinvironmnt(piclndocil),mount

omdi pour(primrilnon-cool pour), non-mdi

tim, mdi contnt conumd, ocil contt o mdi u,

dmorpic13,ndocil-pcoloiclcrctritic.Tur-

vitmudinticondrnlircivmorcomplt

dcriptionintdicuionotrrionmtodonblow.

additionll,compltcopoturvintrumntndur-

trdtilboutturvnddirmtodcnboundin

Robrttl.,(2005).

a P P e n D I x M e T h o D o l o g y


28/39


Media Use Diaries

a l-lctd ub-mpl o oun popl wo compltd

tclroomurvloptrltivldmndin,vn-d

mdiudir.Tdirdidtorpondtoourprimrqutionorclourotdbinnint6:00.m.,

ndiniint12:00.m.Tourprimrqutionwr:

Wtindomdi[in]wrouuin?

Wtlwroudoin[wiluinmdium]?

Wrwrou?

Wowwitou?

forcotvndird,rpondntwrlod

to timtt mount o timt pnt incool, worin

tob,doincor,doinomwor,prticiptininclub/

port/obbi,tc.,ndbininnormocildcrortr

coolprorm.finll,tdircontinditminbouttdrto

wic rpondnt cnnl urd wnwtcintlviion,

owmuctudintntmin,owwlltwrbl

towittndbordom,ndwtmitutwomditt

mtim.sRobrttl.(2005)ormplotmdi

dir.

Secondary Analysis Methods

Ticondrnlitrprimrcomponnt,uin

botprtotoriinltud,urvnddir. ecprto

toriinltudorunuultrnt.Turv,wititrprnttivmpl,orportritodolcntinamric,

rropportunitinmdirrcintpublicdomin.In

contrt,tdir,ltoulcinrprnttivn,orric

dtilndrl-timmplovrntnddpriod.Wilt

urvormorllowviwttirprnttivodol-

cntinamric,tdirpintricr,morcompltpictur

omdiu.Ttwoincombintionivmordtildloo

t mdi multitinmon oun popl tn ntt

bnordbor.

Tdtprimrilocuonrcrtionluomditt

i,uomdioutidocool,orun.formpl,tim

pnt rdin or cool w not murd. howvr, t

nlintirportincludtuocomputrorcool-

wor bcu it w vilbl in t dtt nd bcu o

t computr nticiptd rol in mdi multitin. Wit

tt cption, t mdi u rprntd in t nl i

rcrtionlmdiu.

Tqutionoprvlncomdimultitiniddrd

uinbotturvdtndt dirdt. stritorwrd

rpono7t12trdrtoturvqutiononmdi

multitinrud,iclcompridotvribl.

T dir dt o 3rd12t rdr lo pl rol in

tnlioprvlncomdimultitin.Vriblwr

compildndcomputdcro252tim priod(36l-our

lot ovr 7 d) tocrt mdimultitin proportion.Tiproportionrprnt,ttindividullvl,tproportion

otimwitprimrmdittilopntuintlton

otrmdium.

a l-ouro primr mdi uw indc tim

rpondntrcordduinmdiinl-ourlot.Primr

mdi includd in t mdi multitin proportion wr:

litnin to muic; wtcinTV; wtcin vidotp/DVD;

rdin orun;plin vidom; plin computrm;

doinomworontcomputr;intntmin;milin;

viitinwbit;ndotrcomputrctiviti(itm13,nd

512inTbla1).Wtcinmoviinttrwcluddbcuitpcilnvironmntwconidrdncptionto

mdimultitin.Rpondntwrdtorcordmdiu

itwruinmdiumortlt15minut.Itilil,

ormpl,ttttiml-ourwindwnonl20

minutwrctullpntwitmdium.Ontotrnd,

trcrtinlwrintncwn ounpronudmdi

durinl-ourpriodnddidnotrcorditbcuitdidnot

mtt15-minutminimum.

additionll,l-ourocondrmdiuwind

wnt lt onmdium wrcordd. scondrctiviti

includd in t clcultion r: omwor on t computr;wtcin TV; vido or DVD; rdin; plin vidom;

plincomputrm;intntmin;milin;ndviit-

inwbitndotrcomputrctiviti(itm615inTbl

a2).awittimtinprimrmdiu,lilomcond-

ruwovrloodwilomwovrcountd.Inlllili-

oodtrrorrrndomndtvnoutcrotw.

Tqutionoowrounpoplmdimultitin?

iprimrilddrdinrionlconductdwitt

dirdto8-to18-r-old.Vriblwrcomputdcro

t252timpriodotmdidirtollowmintiono

wic mdi rud incombintion witon notr. T

mdidiroromtinnotiblwitturvdt:

loottnturomdiudurinivnpriodotim.

Tqutionowoimultitin,iddrduin

rrionnlirunonturvdt.Tntionllrpr-

nttivdtoruniquopportunittomin7t12t

rdr rpon to qution bout mdi multitin, nd

providlimpintomdibviorodolcntcrot

countr.Dtilboutmtodndmurcnboundltr

intiappndi.Bcuotrprnttivmpl,indin

romtrrionnlicnbudtocrctridol-

cntllcroamric.


29/39


Validating Survey and Diary

On qution tt ri in t itution o multipl dt

ourciwtrttwoprovidcomplmntrdt.Tt

i,dotdtpointtotm,ordirnt,concluion?Mot

criticlorticondrnli,iwtridcrctridimultitrbdontirrpontotmultitin

qutioninturv,doinct,pndtmottimmdi

multitinccordintotirmdidiri.Indd,t4-itm

mdimultitincorromturvndtmountotim

dvotdtoncondrmdiuromtdirrttiticll

iniicntlcorrltd(r=.17,p


30/39


Dependent Variable

Tdpndntvribl,mdimultitinrqunc,in

indoourqution,prntdblow.Rponoptionwr:

Moto t tim,som ot tim,a littl ottim, ndNvr(rponoptionrptorllqution).

Wn ou rd booor min, ow otn

doou don o t ollowin ctiviti tt

mtim:ucomputr,wtcTVorlitnto

muic?

WnouwtcTV,owotndooudonot

ollowinctivitittmtim:ucom-

putr,rdorlitntomuic?

Wnoulitntomuic,owotndooudo

n ot ollowin ctiviti tt m tim:

ucomputr,wtcTVorrd? Wnouucomputrowotndooudo

n ot ollowin ctiviti tt m tim:

rd,wtcTVorlitntomuic?

atrtrqunciwrmind,tvriblwrc

rvrcoddottirnumbrwouldrprntincrd

liliood to mdi multit, ndmiin dt wr rplcd

wittrimn.15actornlirvldtttour

qutionloddononctor,plinin42%o tvrinc

(Tbla4),ndwitCronbcalpo.74.Tour

itmwrummdtocrtnindrninrom4to16.

Independent Variables

Indpndntvriblwrntrdintotrrionmodl

in sPss in bloc bd upon t ntur o t vribl.16

Dmorpic vribl compri t irt bloc, includin

rd(continuou),ndr(dicotomou),rc/tnicit(tr

dicotomouvribl:Blcornot,hipnicornot,ndOtr

ornot, wit Wit trrnc), it prnt duction

(twodicotomouvribl:omcollornot,ndmiinon

ductionvriblornot,witicoolorltrrnc),

mdinincomotzIPcodinwictcildttndcool

(continuou),rion(3dicotomouvribl:etornot,sout

ornot,ndMidwtornot,witWttrrnc),ndi

oplc(twodicotomouvribl:uburbnornot,ndrurlornot,witurbntrrnc). grdwudinliuo

bcutdtwrwitdonrd.Tcorrltion

btwnrdndi.94(p


31/39


finll, t tird bloc conitd o on vribl rltd to

pronlcrctritic,clmurinntion-intn-

dnci(cl,dicudblow).Onmitupctttoun

popl wit ntion-in trit r mor lil to mdimultitinordrtomintinilvlotimultionnd

citmnt.

Independent Variable Scales and Compiled Variables

TV orientation: Ti vribl indict wtr cildi

romomttiilTV-orintdblctinrpondnt

onlitrponddintmottrmctoronttr

qutionblow.Trpondntlivinomwrtrr

norulboutwtcinTV,tTViuullondurinml

ndionmotottimrrdlowtrnoniwtc-

in. Twnt-it prcnt o 7t12t rdr liv in ilTV-orintdouold.

howotniTVuulloninourom(vninooni

wtcin)?

Motottim 1

somottim 2

alittlbitottim 3

Nvr 4

In ourom, itTVuullon durin ml, ornot?

y,tTViuullondurinml 1

No,tTVinotuullondurinml 2

Doourmilvnrulboutwtcintlviiontourom?

y,mmilrulboutwtcintlviion 1

No,mmildonotvrulboutwtcintlviion 2

Sensation-seeking scale: Ti cl contin itm rltd

to concpt clld ntion in, oriinll t ort b

zucrmn (1964). sntion-in i contruct mur-

in tndnci towrdtrill nddvntur in,princ

in,diinibitionnducptibilittobordom.Topr-

tionlitionndmurmntontion-involvd

ndbn dptdovr tdcdinc itincption (arntt,

1994;zucrmn,2000,2002;zucrmn,1994).Wilt

comprnivntion-inclicompridodono

itmndvrlubcl(zucrmn,1964),rrcrotn

utwoortritmproortnrlconcpt(sltr

&Rini,2005).Timlimittionprcluddmortnw

qution rlvnt to ntion in. T itm oriinll

conidrdortclinclud:

how wll do c o t ollowin ttmnt

dcribou?Icttmntlotliou,om-

wtliou,notmucliou,ornottllliou?

Response options include: A lot like me, Somewhat likeme, Not much like me, Not at all like me.

Ilirindworcitin,vnitrwild

Iomtimcoorindmprntdipprovo

Imotnbord

Ilinwndcitinprinc,vniIvtobr

trul

Itintotroubllot

atr t rqunci wr mind, crtin vribl wr

rvrcoddottirnumbrwouldrprntincrd

ntion in, nd miin dt wr rplcd.18 actornliutdon-ctorolution,plinin40%ot

vrinc. On o t vribl (I m otn bord) did not

cquirinoulodinndwltoutotcl.In

rtropct,tim n bcu crctriticll, ntion

r p tmlv rom bin bord. Prp n itm

ucImilbordwouldvbnbttrit.T

ouritmvCronbcalpo.64.Touritmwr

ummdtocrtclrninrom4to16.

Additional Details on Regression Analysis Results

Trrionnlwrrunin twottiticlprorm.Tmultipllinrrrioninstt(Tbla5),ccount-

inor t dtt wit ndtrt, producd rult tri-

inl comprbl to tsPssnli. Tmodl ccountd

orlitllvrinc.228(v..241insPss)butdir

f ttitic f=26.39,p


32/39


Tctoriocomputrownripintirrionmodlr:

Nocomputr(17.2%,N=207)

hv computr but cnnot tlviion rom it

(rrncctor,25.2%,N=303)hvcomputrndcntlviionromit(57.6%

N=694)

Tmiddlctoritrrncctorndtotr

tworntrddummvribl.Tvriblrcodd

bov inordrto includll otiinormtionnd mintin

mutullcluivctori.

Wntrrionnli irun wittimplvribl

v computr t om (wit wit nd trt pplid)

cludinnrrnctoloctionotcomputrinrltionto

tTV,tritron,iniicnt,poitivctorownincomputr.Tildtrrcrtoblivtttnon-i-

niicntrultornocomputriinprtdutotcomprion

roup,vcomputrbutcnnotTV.Tnocomputr

ctorcontintwtrpondnt.Itipoiblttwn

twitndtrtrpplid,tiroupitrtcdtoor

to civ iniicnc. T modl, owvr, i tronr nd

morplntorwntvriblincludinormtionrrd-

intloctionotcomputrinrltiontottlviion.


33/39


TAbLE A. STATA REGRESSION MODEL

Survey linear regression

Number of obs = 1204

F(18, 36) = 26.39

Prob > F = 0.0000

R-squared = 0.2289

Multitasking Index Coef. Std. Err. t P>|t| 95% Conf. Interval

Grade .0208867 .0594435 0.351 0.727 .0983418 .1401152

Black .3460579 .367865 0.941 0.351 .3917859 1.083902

Hispanic .0951907 .2988445 0.319 0.751 .6945968 .5042154

Other Race .1719555 .4512044 0.381 0.705 .7330459 1.076957

Girl .6392824 .1839739 3.475 0.001 .2702774 1.008287

College .1741948 .2132447 0.817 0.418 .2535199 .6019095

NA Education .2530674 .3930345 0.644 0.522 .53526 1.041395

Median Income 4.62e-06 6.99e-06 0.662 0.511 9.39e-06 .0000186

East .165618 .3183549 0.520 0.605 .4729211 .8041572

South .0942849 .415972 0.227 0.822 .928619 .7400492

Midwest .0437511 .2974098 0.147 0.884 .6402795 .5527774

Suburban .0177023 .326845 0.054 0.957 .6378656 .6732703

Rural .2088575 .2714474 0.769 0.445 .753312 .3355971

Media Exposure .123185 .0126148 9.765 0.000 .097883 .148487

Highly TV Oriented 1.038776 .2288741 4.539 0.000 .5797125 1.497839

No Computer .5307919 .441346 1.203 0.234 1.41602 .354436

Can See TV From Computer 1.259136 .2484146 5.069 0.000 .7608795 1.757393

Sensation Seeking .1633839 .0461313 3.542 0.001 .0708562 .2559116

Constant 6.323184 .9513955 6.646 0.000 4.414927 8.231442


34/39


35/39

1 One wonders, however, whether this study, based on an online sample

and focus groups, may be skewed toward technology-oriented teens who

may be more likely than most to media multitask.

2 Another company focuses on researching adults media multitasking

behaviors. The Media Center at the American Press Institute releasesinformation to the press about a series of proprietary studies conducted by

BIGresearch called the Simultaneous Media Usage Study (i.e. SIMM).

3 Respondents with no recorded primary media time were excluded from

the analysis (1.3%, N=9). In addition, a handful of respondents had media

multitasking proportions greater than 1 (.8%, N=6). These respondents

were excluded because secondary media use should not have beenrecorded without a primary medium recorded. These errors likely occurred

during data entry.

4 This estimate, .21, differs slightly from an analysis reported in Roberts etal., 2005 due to inclusion of slightly different items and to the calculation of

the proportion at the individual, rather than the aggregate level.

5 As described in the Appendix, the diary asks young people to indicate, for

each half-hour segment of the day, whether they used media for at least 15minutes, which media, and whether they were doing something else while

they were engaged with a primary medium. A straightforward calculation of

the amount of time in a week devoted to each medium as a primary and as asecondary medium is illustrative of how media are used together.

6 Television refers to time spent with television, DVDs and videos

throughout this paper. Though they were asked about separately for pri-mary media use, they were combined for secondary media use. In order

achieve consistency and comparability, they have been combined for all

analyses.

7 For example, any time television was a primary medium and reading thesecondary medium, or vice versa, a half-hour of television/reading media

multitasking was counted. These pairs were then summed for a calculation

of total time spent with each pair (regardless of which medium was pri-

mary and which was secondary) for an entire week. Then, at the aggregatelevel, a proportion was created: for each medium, what proportion of that

mediums total time (both primary and secondary) was spent paired witheach of the other media asked about. Creating a proportion of time pro-

vides a perspective that builds in some equality. That is, because there is

such imbalance in the amount of time devoted to various media, a propor-tion breaks it out in a way that makes the various media more comparable.

This approach gives a more detailed accounting, for each half-hour over

an entire week, of which media are used in conjunction with one another.

Individual computer activities are considered each in their own right, andas equals to other media such as television and music.

8 Table 3 shows, for each medium, the proportion of time spent multitask-

ing it with each other medium. Using a sum of the proportion of total time

spent multitasking each medium (see Tables 4a-i), a number was calculated

that estimates the proportion of each mediums total time that is spentmultitasking with another medium. Because diary respondents could mark

multiple secondary activities, this proportion is inflated by those instanceswhen multiple secondary media activities were indicated. That is, if televi-sion was the primary activity, and reading and websites were both marked

as secondary activities, each was counted as a half-hour of paired time, and

that is reflected in the proportion.

9 In order to create a proportion of time devoted to an activity, the total

weekly amount of time devoted to a primary media activity was divided

by the weekly amount of time spent with each secondary activity at the

aggregate level. The proportion of time devoted to secondary activities wassummed, excluding Nothing (because respondents were not engaging in

a secondary activity) and Any computer (to avoid double counting com-

puter activities), creating a Proportion of time spent with other activities.(See Tables 5a-k) Because respondents could indicate multiple secondary

activities, in a couple of instances, a sum of the individual proportions

of time devoted to secondary activities may exceed 100%, and act as anindication of likelihood of doing multiple secondary activities. The higher

the proportion of time spent with secondary activities, the more likely that

the primary activity is to be multitasked with more than one of the activitieslisted in Table A2.

10 Television encompasses pre-recorded television, DVDs and videos

along with regular television viewing.

11 Two media, videogames and reading, seem less involved in media multi-tasking, and play chameleon-like roles. In both cases, over a third of their

time is spent shared with other media, but because not as much time is

devoted to either medium, neither are common pairs for other media. Thecase of videogames requires some clarification. On the surface, the data

appear to tell contradicting stories. On one hand, videogames share more

of their time with other media (41%) than any other medium (television,

music, the computer, and print media). On the other hand, young peopleare most likely to focus their attention (do nothing else) exclusively on the

medium at hand when their primary activity is playing videogames. When

their primary activity is playing videogames, they report doing nothingelse 55% of the time (the same proportion as for television). There are a

couple of explanations that help untangle these findings. First, videogames

proportionally share much of their time with other media because, in con-trast to media such as television or music, they do not devote nearly as

much time to videogames. Hence, any time shared with other media seems

large because the denominator is relatively small. Television is a commonpartner for all media while videogames are not. This difference between

television and videogames is only possible because of the large discrepancy

in time devoted to television versus videogames. Second, videogames are

the one non-computer activity for which media time outweighs non-mediatime in secondary activities. This skew toward media activities dominating

e n D n o T e s


36/39


secondary activities during videogaming is likely because media, particu-

larly media such as television and music, which are the most likely pairs,can be shared with videogames through monitoring. Other non-media

tasks, as well as interactive media tasks, are not as easily paired with video-

games. The focus given to videogames is likely a result of the physical and

cognitive interaction required to continue the activity, whereas televisioncontent will continue with only partial attention paid to it (i.e. Comstocks

monitoring behavior; see Comstock & Scharrer, 1999).

Reading also deserves some discussion. While reading and music sharenearly equal proportions of time with other media, reading, unlike the

other two media activities, is not as common a pairing with other media.

Television and music are consistently the most common pairings with othermedia: that is, they share the greatest proportions of other medias time.

This phenomenon is possible because young people devote much less time

to reading than they do to television and music.

12 Diaries were received from 798 participants. However, a number ofdiaries with excessive missing data, several with numerous responses that

were extreme outliers, and a few from young people who were 1920 years

old were excluded.

13 Parent education and income, our two primary indicators of socioeconomic

status, represent the two most problematic measures of all the demographic

characteristics we have employed because both measures contain substantial

error. Information on parent education is obtained by proxy; that is, thechild serves as proxy for the parent. Obviously there is good reason to

be wary of child-based reports of parent education. Many children, par-

ticularly younger children, simply may not know the level of educationachieved by parents; others may be misinformed for any of several reasons.

Thus, we must assume that there is a good deal of error in this variable.

Income poses a different problem. Children are even less likely to know

level of household income than level of parent education. Because it isalmost impossible to obtain accurate estimates of household income from

school-aged youth, we have used federal estimates of median community

income for the ZIP code area of each participating school. Thus, respon-

dents are classified as low income (under $35,000 median income), middleincome ($35,000$50,000), or high income (over $50,000) depending

on the median income of the ZIP code area in which the childs school islocated. The problem, of course, is that some students from higher income

households attend schools located in low-income ZIP code areas, and that

some students from lower income households attend schools located in

relatively higher income ZIP code areas. Thus, by characterizing individualson the basis of aggregate data, we introduce error of a different sort into our

second measure of socioeconomic status.

14 See Appendix for details on sampling and weighting.

15 The factor analysis was run with and without missing responses replaced

and the results were, for all intents and purposes, the same. The number

of missing responses for each of the items is: q26, 1 missing case; q41, 7missing cases; q53, 6 missing cases; q64, 34 missing cases.

16 The variables were entered simultaneously in Stata, in effect, the same

approach as the final model in SPSS. Entering the variables in blocks in

SPSS shows the increase in variance explained with the addition of eachset of variables.

17 Total media exposure includes time reported in survey with: television

videos/DVDs/pre-recorded television; movies; books; magazines; newspa-per; radio; CDs/tapes/MP3s; videogames and computer activities.

18 The factor analysis was run with and without missings replaced and the

results were, for all intents and purposes, the same. No individual item had

more than 15 missing cases, and all but one had 10 or fewer.


37/39

R e f e R e n C e s

Anderson, D. R., & Field, D. E. (1991). Online and offline assessment of thetelevision audience. In J. Bryant & D. Zillmann (Eds.), Responding

To the Screen: Reception and Reaction Processes (pp. 199216).

Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Anderson, D. R., Field, D. E., Collins, P. A., Lorch, E. P., & Nathan, J. G. (1985).Estimates of young childrens time with television: A methodological

comparison of parent reports with time-lapse video home observa-tion. Child Development, 56(5), 13451357.

Anderson, P. M., & Butcher, K.F. (2006). Childhood obesity: trends and

potential causes. The Future of Children, 16(1), 1945.

Armstrong, G. (2000). Background television and reading memory incontext: Assessing TV interference and facilitative context effects on

encoding versus retrieval processes. Communication Research, 27(3),

327352.

Armstrong, G. B., Boriarsky, G. A., & Mares, M. (1991). Background televi-

sion and reading performance. Communication Monographs, 58(3),

235253.

Armstrong, G. B., & Greenberg, B. S. (1990). Background television as aninhibitor of cognitive processing. Human Communication Research,

16(3), 355386.

Armstrong, G. B., & Sopory, P. (1997). Effects of background television onphonological and visuo-spatial working memory. Communication

Research, 24(5), 459480.

kaiser media multitasking

Documents