Research: Multi-Tasking in Class Reduces Test Scores

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

Susan Ravizza, an associate professor of psychology and director of the Cognitive Control Neurolab at Michigan State studied non-academic Internet use in an introductory psychology class with 500 students. Their working theory was that heavy Internet users with lower intellectual abilities (defined by ACT scores) would do worse on exams. They found that to be true; these students did do worse. But the same was true for those with higher ACT scores. Both groups had lower test scores. The results have impact beyond the idea of imposing policies on classroom device usage (an idea Ravizza is opposed to). Eventually, the researchers may come up with strategies for helping people ignore screen-oriented distractions by educating them on the impact, comparable to on-going efforts to remind people not to text while driving.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/07/08/research-the-proof-is-in-multi-tasking-in-class-reduces-test-scores.aspx

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