Performance while distracted: The effect of cognitive styles and working memory

In this study, we examine the effects of cognitive styles (i.e., creating and planning) and working memory on task accuracy, in a distracting context. Undergraduate students participated in a lab study where they completed a Microsoft Excel task under conditions of distraction, the cognitive styles indicator (CoSI), the operation span (O-Span) task, and the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT-R). Controlling for general mental ability (GMA), we found a direct effect of creating on task accuracy. However, we observed no significant moderating effects of working memory on the effects of creating and planning on task accuracy. Our results highlight the value of further research on cognitive styles, within the context of distracting work.
Source: Personality and Individual Differences - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research