Distortions in time perceptions during task switching

• Published in: Computers in human behavior Vol. 80; pp. 362 - 369
• Main Authors: Xu, Shan, David, Prabu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Between-subjects design; Entertainment; Media; Media measure; Media multitasking; Multitasking; Studies; Switching; Task switching; Time duration; Time passage; Task switching; Time duration; Media multitasking; Entertainment; Time passage; Media measure
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.032

Perceived time passage and time duration were examined in a between-subjects design with four conditions: watching a sitcom, reading a journal article, occasional switching between sitcom and article, frequent switching between sitcom and article. Consistent with our prediction, time “flew by” in the high-entertainment condition that involved watching a sitcom, whereas time “dragged on” in the low-entertainment condition that involved reading a journal article. Switching between the two led to quicker passage of time than the low-entertainment condition, but not the high-entertainment condition. A different pattern was evident for duration estimation, with no difference between the low- and high-entertainment conditions, but a longer estimation of duration in the switching condition. Further, frequency of switching between the sitcom and article did not make a difference. These findings suggest that switching between tasks leads to overestimations of time spent on media. •Both task structure and task content influenced time perceptions.•Time passed quickly when doing a more entertaining task.•Time passed quickly when switching between more and less entertaining tasks.•Compared to doing either task alone, switching led to overestimation of time duration.