02/21/2026
Multitasking Is Many Skills, Not One
New research reveals that multitasking isn't a single ability, but rather a combination of general cognitive skills and task-specific competencies.
The study assessed how 224 university students performed across nine challenges representing three multitasking types: concurrent multitasking, task-switching, and complex multitasking.
Researchers found that task-switching depends heavily on general cognitive ability, while other forms require more specialized skills, like working memory and planning.
This helps explain why people perform differently depending on the nature of the task.
It also offers insight into the conflicting gender results found in earlier multitasking studies, which often measured only one type of task.
The findings suggest a more tailored approach is needed for multitasking training and evaluation.
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A new study reveals that multitasking isn’t a single, universal skill, but a combination of broad cognitive abilities and task-specific skills.
