In math class, while trying to understand a complicated problem on the chalkboard, you look over your physics notes in preparation for a physics quiz scheduled for the next hour. How successful will you be at these dual-attention tasks, and why? Include at least three influences on attention in your discussion.
What will be an ideal response?
You may not be successful at doing both tasks for the following reasons: (1) Maintaining the focus of your attention on both the lecture and the studying is very difficult. It is not easy to divide attention between two very different tasks. (2) Dividing attention between two stimuli that use the same sensory system (visual, in this case) is also very difficult. (3) Stress makes attending to either stimulus more difficult. The stress of worrying about the upcoming physics quiz and of trying to understand a complicated problem will interfere with attention. Stress tends to narrow attention, not broaden it.
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