A conceptual typology of multitasking behavior and polychronicity preferences

Giovanni Circella (), Patricia Mokhtarian and Laura K. Poff ()
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Giovanni Circella: Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis
Laura K. Poff: Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis

electronic International Journal of Time Use Research, 2012, vol. 9, issue 1, 59-107

Abstract: This paper introduces a conceptual framework for the systematic analysis of multitasking behavior, and the corresponding degree of preference for doing multiple activities simultaneously (polychronicity). A typology of multitasking is developed along the two dimensions “share of time” and “share of resources” allocated to each task. We discuss the heterogeneous nature of resources and the importance of the time scale and time granularity used for measuring multitasking, among other considerations. An illustrative library of examples of multitasking situations is provided. Finally, we discuss the measurement of polychronicity as a time- and context-dependentvector, rather than as a single score.

Keywords: Multitasking; polychronicity; time use; personality; attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 C83 D03 D24 D61 J22 J24 O33 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:leu:journl:2012:vol9:issue1:p59-107

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