Randomized trial assessed the effects of task switching on motivation and depletion among knowledge workers, indicating a nuanced view of multitasking.
Work interruptions are a frequent occurrence during the workday. This study sheds light on two crucial yet overlooked aspects of work interruptions: task switching and routinized tasks. We randomly assigned 152 knowledge workers to a task switching group or control group. The task switching group switched between a complex task (divergent thinking task) and a routine task (revising an email). The control group performed the tasks sequentially. Participants in the experimental group reported significantly less depletion, higher task focus, and higher motivation than the control group. The effects were pronounced for individuals with a high preference for multitasking. No significant differences were found for creative performance. By shedding light on task complexity and multitasking preferences, this study contributes to a more balanced examination of the positive and negative aspects of task switching.
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Nuhn et al. (2025) studied this question.
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