When dividing attention between two tasks (Multitasking), people need to find the most efficient ways of allocating their attentional or processing resources between the tasks. It is reasonable to presume that people with higher levels of intelligence will be better able to allocate their processing resources efficiently. This was investigated in a study by Ben-Shakhar and Sheffer. Read on to learn more about their findings and how RightPeople has used this information to help you make better choices during your recruitment process.
Cognitive Resources and Task Demands
When people complete cognitive (thinking) tasks, they rely on limited resources such as attention, focus, and working memory. Different tasks demand different amounts of these resources. Simple or well-practised tasks use only a small amount (e.g., typing for a skilled typist or computer games for teenagers). More abstract, unfamiliar, or complex tasks require much more processing power.
These differences in available resources—and in how people divide them—may help explain individual differences in intelligence.
Research Evidence on Multitasking and Intelligence
Ben-Shakhar and Sheffer (2001) explored this idea. They studied 50 participants who completed both single tasks and multitasking conditions made from pairs of those tasks. The researchers found that performance in multitasking could not be predicted solely from performance in the single tasks. Participants showed an additional ability that influenced their multitasking performance. They also discovered that dual-task performance predicted overall intelligence better than single-task performance.
Why Multitasking Reflects Intelligence
These findings suggest that multitasking reveals how well a person divides attention and handles increased task complexity. It also provides a strong indicator of general intelligence.
RightPeople’s Multitasking Test
RightPeople’s Multitasking test measures higher-level problem solving. It requires people to divide their attention between two problems at the same time. Research shows that the test predicts management ability. It also offers a clear indication of a person’s general intelligence, especially fluid, non-verbal intelligence.
It can be combined into a package of tests, or used on its own as a great indicator of high-level problem-solving, management skill and intelligence. Contact us to find out more about this innovative test.
