Does multitasking make you less productive?
Supported by research. Yes, multitasking consistently reduces productivity and task performance due to negative cognitive outcomes and dual-task costs. Based on 5 scientific papers. Confidence: 100/100.
Strong, consistent scientific evidence supports it.
Why the evidence says so
- Meta-analyses and reviews demonstrate negative cognitive outcomes associated with multitasking.
- Research consistently shows that multitasking incurs dual-task costs.
- Multiple scientific sources confirm that task performance is impaired by multitasking.
The evidence, claim by claim
01Supported by researchMultitasking reduces productivity and task performance.
Multitasking reduces productivity and task performance.
Multiple provided sources, including meta-analyses and reviews, demonstrate that multitasking has negative effects on cognitive outcomes, reduces task performance, and incurs dual-task costs.
Sources
Media Multitasking Effects on Cognitive vs. Attitudinal Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis
2016 · Meta-Analysis · Se‐Hoon Jeong, Yoori Hwang
MULTITASKING BEHAVIOR IN THE WORKPLACE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
2022 · Systematic Review · Nadia Butt, Nosheen Fatima Warraich
Let's get physical: the dual-task costs of multiple motor responses
2020 · Research · Taylor Nicole Hutson
Cognitive structure, flexibility, and plasticity in human multitasking—An integrative review of dual-task and task-switching research.
2018 · Review · Iring Koch, Edita Poljac
Can't See the Forest for the Trees? The Effect of Media Multitasking on Cognitive Processing Style
2015 · Research · Snezhanka Kazakova, Veroline Cauberghe
Questions people ask
Yes, multitasking consistently reduces productivity and task performance due to negative cognitive outcomes and dual-task costs.
Meta-analyses and reviews demonstrate negative cognitive outcomes associated with multitasking. Research consistently shows that multitasking incurs dual-task costs. Multiple scientific sources confirm that task performance is impaired by multitasking.
EvidenceLens matched the claim against 5 peer-reviewed papers from its research index, weighed the evidence for and against, and a human reviewer approved this page before publication. Verdicts describe the strength of the evidence, not medical advice.
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5 scientific papersPublished on after passing our automated evidence checks; not individually reviewed by an editor. Evidence check generated . Read how we check claims, including what the verdicts do and do not mean.
Verdicts describe the strength of published research, not medical, legal or financial advice. AI-assisted analysis can contain errors; open the sources before making important decisions. Spotted a problem? Request a correction.