The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations SYMPOSIUM The Impact of Multitasking and Media on Children and Adults Western Psychological Association Convention April 11, 2008 Larry Rosen, Ph.D., L. Mark Carrier, Ph.D., Nancy A. Cheever, M.A., Jennifer C. Chang, Sandra Y. Benitez California State University, Dominguez Hills

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations The Impact of Multitasking and Media on Children and Adults  Three Generations in the Workplace – Rosen  Text Messaging and English Literacy – Chang  Multitasking Across Generations – Carrier  Relational Communication Preferences – Cheever  Bilingualism & Text Messaging – Benitez

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations STUDY OVERVIEW Online Anonymous Survey - September 2007 Issues Addressed: Daily Technology Use Multitasking Ease or Difficulty Instant Messaging Text Messaging Cell Phone Use Use of Textisms and English Literacy Preferred Communication Modalities Shyness and Honesty Online, Offline & Phone Self Esteem and Depression

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations GROUP SAMPLE SIZE MALES FEMALES AsianBlackWhiteLatino/a Net Generation (1980 +) Under % -- 58%22%17%27%35% Generation X ( ) 29 to % -- 57%17%22%33%28% Baby Boomers ( ) 44 to % -- 61%7%21%52%21% TOTAL SAMPLE1,31942%--58%17%19%35%30% Sample Demographics

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Welcome to the “Media” Generation According to the Kaiser Family Foundation 2005 National Study  Children Spend 6 Hours and 21 Minutes PER DAY using digital media or 44 hours PER WEEK  Accounting for Multitasking, this increases to 8 Hours 33 Minutes PER DAY or 60 HOURS PER WEEK

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THEIR MEDIA AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER GENERATIONS?

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations PERCENTAGE OF THE THREE GENERATIONS WHO USE EACH TECHNOLOGY

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations TECHNOLOGY HOURS/DAY NET GENERATION GENERATION XBABY BOOMERS Online2:311:581:14 On Computer2:082:321:41 1:261:371:14 IM/Chat1:450:360:14 Telephone2:021:471:38 Texting2:201:070:28 Video Games1:080:310:13 Music3:332:351:44 Television2:372:122:25 TOTAL DAILY TECHNOLOGY USE 20:3814:557:51 HOURS OF DAILY TECHNOLOGY USE (only those who use each technology)

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Don’t these kids ever sleep? Of course they do (although not enough). The key is MULTITASKING

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Multitasking With Free Time Number of TasksNumber of Tasks Net Generation Generation X Baby Boomers

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Why Do They Multitask so Much? One explanation is the rapid pace of technological change

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Years to Reach 50 Million Users The Pace of Technology Change is Dizzying What’s Next?

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Another possible explanation is a change in communication style and preferences Net Geners prefer asynchronous communication tools They spend more hours texting than talking on the telephone (2:20 vs. 2:02) They love to IM and Chat (1:45) They spend hours on MySpace and Facebook (2:30 at a minimum)

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations OVERALL HOURS PER DAY USING ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION TOOLS BY GENERATION ( , IM, Chat, Text Messaging) Net Generation5:31 Generation X3:20 Baby Boomers1:56 Look at How Much They Use These Asynchronous Tools

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Plus, They Text Message Substantially More Than “Older” Generations AVERAGE NUMBER OF TEXT MESSAGES PER MONTH BY GENERATION (only for those who use text messaging) Net Generation511 Generation X232 Baby Boomers24

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Overall the generations clearly differ in: The amount of technology they use on a daily basis The types of technology they use How much they multitask with these technologies

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations My Presentation Will Focus on How These Generational Differences Impact the Workplace Where Employees and Management Include Members of the Net Generation, Generation X, and the Baby Boomer Generation

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Assimilating and Accommodating Three Generations in the Technological Workplace Larry D. Rosen, Ph.D. California State University, Dominguez Hills

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations We are in the Midst of Three Vastly Different Generations That Differ on Personal and Work Values Baby Boomers (born ) Generation X (born ) Net Generation (born after 1979)

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations They Differ on Both Work Values and Personal Values

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Baby Boomers Single Lifetime Job Fiercely Loyal to Company Work is Life/Personally Fulfilling Avoid Making Waves Everyone has a Voice – Boss Sets the Rules Team Player – Loves Meetings

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Baby Boomers (continued) Routines are Important Process vs. Product Face-to-Face or Telephone Communication Learned Technology After School Motivated by Being “Valued”

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Generation X Multiple Jobs to Find a “Career” Self-Reliant: Set Own Time Plan Work to Have More Fun in Life Challenge Authority: Ask Why Motivated by Rewards at the End of Every Project

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Generation X (continued) Grew Up With Technology Prefer Cell Phone or Communication Want Immediate Access to Bosses Good Multitaskers Product vs. Process: They Hate Meetings

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Net Generation Build a Career Through Skill Acquisition Balance Between Life and Work Goal Oriented But Collegiality Important Want Meaningful Work – Not Boredom Motivated by Working with Bright/Creative People and Learning New Skills

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations WORK VALUES: Net Generation (continued) Need Constant, Instantaneous Feedback Communicate via IM, Chat, Texting Grew Up With Everything Technological Multitaskers to the Nth Degree

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations PERSONAL VALUES Baby Boomers Optimistic and Self-Confident Beginnings of Fractured Family Structure Politically Active Buy Now, Pay Later

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations PERSONAL VALUES Generation X Skeptical and Low Trust of Authority Latchkey Kids Political Apathy Monetarily Conservative: Save Save Save

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations PERSONAL VALUES Net Generation Realistic World View – Trust Authority Blended Families – Strong Family Bonds Political and Community Action Earn to Spend

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Clearly these three generations are different on many dimensions. These differences become issues to consider when working in a workplace with people of all ages. Here are just a few of those issues:

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations Process vs. Product In-Person vs. Online Meetings Communication Modalities Work Schedules: Rigid vs. Flex Motivational Tools Reinforcements and Rewards Collegiality Work vs. Play (Time Off) Career Expectations

The Impact of Multitasking and Media Across Generations And now Jennifer Chang will talk about the impact of textisms on English literacy.