In cognitive psychology, what is a commonly observed effect of task switching while studying?

• A. It guarantees faster completion of study tasks without any drawbacks.
• B. It often leads to decreased attention and reduced overall learning efficiency.
• C. It has no measurable impact on cognitive performance or study outcomes.
• D. It consistently improves memory retention and deepens understanding of material.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of task switching in cognitive psychology, which refers to shifting attention between different tasks or types of information during study sessions.
2. Recognize that task switching requires cognitive resources to reorient attention and adjust mental sets, which can interrupt focus and processing efficiency.
3. Identify that empirical research shows task switching often results in decreased attention to each individual task, leading to less effective encoding of information.
4. Note that this decrease in attention and increased cognitive load typically reduces overall learning efficiency and retention of material.
5. Conclude that the commonly observed effect of task switching while studying is a negative impact on attention and learning, rather than improvements or no effect.