Anastasia Kononova | Michigan State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Anastasia Kononova

Research paper thumbnail of Habit Formation in Wearable Activity Tracker Use Among Older Adults: Qualitative Study

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Background Wearable activity trackers are popular devices used to motivate behavior change. Weara... more Background Wearable activity trackers are popular devices used to motivate behavior change. Wearable activity trackers are especially beneficial for encouraging light physical activity such as walking, which is an ideal behavior for older adults or individuals who cannot be physically active at moderate and vigorous levels. A common problem is that people do not continue to use these wearable devices, with initial behavioral change gains eroding as people disengage. Limited research is available regarding the continued use of wearable activity trackers. The habit formation literature may provide insights into the long-term use of wearables and other health informatics devices. Objective This study aims to uncover the mechanism underlying the long-term continued use of wearable devices among older adults through the theoretical lens of habit formation. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants who were aged 65 years or older and had used wearable activity tracke...

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption of Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Can Be Increased When Multitasking with Screen Devices

Research paper thumbnail of Technology Use in Rural Dementia Care: Perspectives from Family Caregivers, PWD, and Service Professionals

Innovation in Aging

Purpose: The use of technology in dementia care has shown promising benefits for both people livi... more Purpose: The use of technology in dementia care has shown promising benefits for both people living with dementia and their family caregivers, however, little is known regarding how technology is used among families affected by dementia who reside in rural communities. The purpose of this study was to explore technology use and barriers among people living with dementia, family caregivers, and service professionals who live in rural areas of Michigan. Methods: This study was based upon focus group data from six groups of family caregivers (n=32); one group of people living with early stages of dementia (n=4), and one group of service professionals (n=4) recruited from rural counties in Michigan. Results: Technology use included assisting caregiving tasks (e.g., monitoring a wandering care recipient), facilitating treatment (e.g., access treatment through telemedicine), and providing social connection and support. Themes related to strategies included addressing educational needs of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Contrary to Myth, Older Adults Multitask With Media and Technologies, But Studying Their Multitasking Behaviors Can Be Challenging

Innovation in Aging

Background and Objectives The study’s objective was to explore older adults’ (aged 65 or older) d... more Background and Objectives The study’s objective was to explore older adults’ (aged 65 or older) descriptions of behavior related to multitasking with traditional and newer media/information and communication technologies (ICTs) and perceived benefits of such behavior, along with older adults’ preference for research methods used to study their multitasking behaviors. Employing common media-use measures that heavily rely on self-reporting in populations of older adults is challenging, especially given that patterns of media/ICT use are becoming increasingly complex. Cumulatively, people spend more time using media than they are aware of because of the tendency to use some forms of media simultaneously. As cognitive ability deteriorates with age, self-reported recollection of complex patterns of media/ICT use, such as multitasking, among older adults increases the threat to data accuracy. Research Design and Methods: Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults in a Midwestern U.S. s...

Research paper thumbnail of Using Qualitative In-Depth Interviews to Assess Smartphone Users’ Persuasion Knowledge Related to Health Mobile Apps Supported by Commercial, Governmental, and Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps used for promotion raise important questions about privac... more BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps used for promotion raise important questions about privacy of sensitive personal health information and digital advertising literacy. Although it is common that different types of organizations support mHealth apps for promotional purposes (e.g., sponsorship, owned apps), there is little understanding of users’ perceptions regarding the safety of personal data stored in mobile apps. Persuasion knowledge, or recognition of a sponsor’s presence, characteristics, intents, competencies, and persuasion tactics, is crucial to investigate because the abundance of mHealth apps makes it difficult for users to identify their true purpose and estimate privacy-related risks. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate smartphone users’ persuasion knowledge related to mHealth apps used as a promotional strategy by commercial, government, and non-profit/non-governmental organizations. This study also examines users’ willingness to share demographic an...

Research paper thumbnail of Factors Associated with Older Adults' Long-Term Use of Wearable Activity Trackers

Telemedicine and e-Health

Research paper thumbnail of Folk theorizing the quality and credibility of health apps

Mobile Media & Communication

Increase in availability and accessibility of health apps raises important questions regarding st... more Increase in availability and accessibility of health apps raises important questions regarding strategies smartphone owners use to determine what health apps to download. As mobile health apps aim at helping users manage their healthy lifestyles and health conditions, it is important for researchers, developers, and educators to know how individuals find and assess the quality and credibility of these apps, and what guides their decisions to download and use them. We conducted semistructured interviews using the think-aloud technique with 19 community members in a U.S. Midwestern city and analyzed the data using open coding thematic analysis to determine how smartphone users assess health apps before downloading them. We find users determined app credibility through quick, but holistic cues based on the app’s features, and “borrowed” credibility decisions from friends or other health app users. App quality was often equated to personal preferences, that is, how the app met those pre...

Research paper thumbnail of Screen overload: Pleasant multitasking with screen devices leads to the choice of healthful over less healthful snacks when compared with unpleasant multitasking

Computers in Human Behavior

Research paper thumbnail of Screen Addiction and Media Multitasking among American and Taiwanese Users

Journal of Computer Information Systems

Research paper thumbnail of Measuring smartphone usage and task switching with log tracking and self-reports

Mobile Media & Communication

Smartphones offer multimedia convergence in a single device, ubiquitous access to media, and cons... more Smartphones offer multimedia convergence in a single device, ubiquitous access to media, and constant connections with others. The rapid rise of smartphone use calls for more scholarly attention paid to users’ media usage and time expenditure. This study aims to (a) understand smartphone usage patterns by examining time spent using smartphones and task switching between mobile applications (apps), and (b) test the validity of self-reported measures of these behaviors by comparing self-reports with log data from the smartphone. Data were collected from 50 participants over 1 week. Results show that on average participants spent 2 hours 39 minutes on their smartphone and made 101 app switches per day. Among other findings, social networking was the most used app category, age was a significant demographic factor, and participants, especially heavy smartphone users, overestimated their mobile app usage. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Educational Setting and Stress on Multitasking Among Medical Students

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Wearable Activity Trackers Among Older Adults: A Focus Group Study of Tracker Perceptions, Motivators, And Barriers in Different Stages of Behavior Change (Preprint)

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Background: Wearable activity trackers offer the opportunity to increase physical activity throug... more Background: Wearable activity trackers offer the opportunity to increase physical activity through continuous monitoring. Viewing tracker use as a beneficial health behavior, we explored the factors that facilitate and hinder long-term activity tracker use, applying the transtheoretical model of behavior change with the focus on the maintenance stage and relapse. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate older adults' perceptions and uses of activity trackers at different points of use: from nonuse and short-term use to long-term use and abandoned use to determine the factors to maintain tracker use and prevent users from discontinuing tracker usage. Methods: Data for the research come from 10 focus groups. Of them, 4 focus groups included participants who had never used activity trackers (n=17). These focus groups included an activity tracker trial. The other 6 focus groups (without the activity tracker trial) were conducted with short-term (n=9), long-term (n=11), and former tracker users (n=11; 2 focus groups per user type). Results: The results revealed that older adults in different tracker use stages liked and wished for different tracker features, with long-term users (users in the maintenance stage) being the most diverse and sophisticated users of the technology. Long-term users had developed a habit of tracker use whereas other participants made an effort to employ various encouragement strategies to ensure behavior maintenance. Social support through collaboration was the primary motivator for long-term users to maintain activity tracker use. Short-term and former users focused on competition, and nonusers engaged in vicarious tracker use experiences. Former users, or those who relapsed by abandoning their trackers, indicated that activity tracker use was fueled by curiosity in quantifying daily physical activity rather than the desire to increase physical activity. Long-term users saw a greater range of pros in activity tracker use whereas others focused on the cons of this behavior. Conclusions: The results suggest that activity trackers may be an effective technology to encourage physical activity among older adults, especially those who have never tried it. However, initial positive response to tracker use does not guarantee tracker use maintenance. Maintenance depends on recognizing the long-term benefits of tracker use, social support, and internal motivation. Nonadoption and relapse may occur because of technology's limitations and gaining awareness of one's physical activity without changing the physical activity level itself.

Research paper thumbnail of Take a Break: Examining College Students’ Media Multitasking Activities and Motivations During Study- or Work-Related Tasks

Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social me... more A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social media, texting/instant messaging (IM), and music while studying/working and what motivates them to multitask with each medium. Four out of five participants multitasked with Facebook and texting/IM, and two out of three multitasked with music. Habit was the strongest motivation for multitasking that positively predicted multitasking frequency. Overall, multitasking with Facebook, texting/IM, and music differed by motivations. Multitasking with music was associated with entertainment and efficiency needs, while multitasking with Facebook/texting/IM was related to satisfying socialization, passing time, and escaping needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Double-Dipping Effect? How Combining YouTube Environmental PSAs With Thematically Congruent Advertisements in Different Formats Affects Memory and Attitudes

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 15252019 2015 1009524, Jan 28, 2015

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Wearable Activity Trackers and Older Adults: The Social Effect and Importance in Healthcare

Research paper thumbnail of Take a Break: Examining College Students' Media Multitasking Activities and Motivations During Study-or Work-Related Tasks

A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social me... more A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social media, texting/instant messaging (IM), and music while studying/working and what motivates them to multitask with each medium. Four out of five participants multitasked with Facebook and texting/IM, and two out of three multitasked with music. Habit was the strongest motivation for multitasking that positively predicted multitasking frequency. Overall, multitasking with Facebook, texting/IM, and music differed by motivations. Multitasking with music was associated with entertainment and efficiency needs, while multitasking with Facebook/texting/IM was related to satisfying socialization, passing time, and escaping needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Covid-19, Free Speech, Hate Speech: Implications for Journalism Teaching

"Covid-19, Free Speech, Hate Speech: Implications for Journalism Teaching", 2021

The essay stems from conversations and research from AEJMC's "Recommended Ethical Professional Fr... more The essay stems from conversations and research from AEJMC's "Recommended Ethical Professional Freedom & Responsibility Guidelines." It is from this perspective that we address the handling of free speech during the Covid-19 pandemic and how threats to free speech, particularly during racially charged periods, may affect teaching in journalism and mass communication programs. Further, we discuss instances in which free speech is used during a

Research paper thumbnail of Interpersonal Communication, Media Exposure, Opinion Leadership, and Perceived Credibility of News and Advertising During December 2012 Parliamentary Election in Kuwait

International Journal of Communication, Apr 15, 2015

This study investigates how a sample of Kuwaiti citizens engaged in interpersonal communication a... more This study investigates how a sample of Kuwaiti citizens engaged in interpersonal communication and used traditional and new media during the December 2012 parliamentary election in Kuwait. Hypotheses were developed based on an analysis of macro-level politico-economic and sociocultural factors that affect communication flows in the country and using a two-step flow of information framework. Consistent with predictions, respondents spent more time in interpersonal political discussions than using traditional media. Time spent in face-to-face conversations and on social media to obtain and exchange political information was equal, indicating that social media is an important channel of communication in the region. Newspaper and Internet ads were perceived as the most credible forms of advertising. Opinion leadership positively predicted news and advertising exposure, and perceived credibility mediated these effects.

Research paper thumbnail of If I choose when to switch: Heavy multitaskers remember online content better than light multitaskers when they have the freedom to multitask

Research paper thumbnail of Why do we multitask with media? Predictors of media multitasking among Internet users in the United States and Taiwan

The study explored how media and audience factors, such as country of residence, media ownership,... more The study explored how media and audience factors, such as country of residence, media ownership, polychronicity, or the preference to do multiple things at the same time, predict media multitasking behaviors and if different motivations to multitask mediate the effects of these factors. The study is based on a cross-cultural survey (N=1,972) that included respondents from the United States and Taiwan. The findings indicated that media ownership, polychronicity, and four motivations (control, entertainment, connection, and addiction) positively predicted media multitasking behaviors. The four motivations were also found to mediate the effect of media ownership. American respondents were higher polychronics and heavier multitaskers than their Taiwanese counterparts. In the Taiwanese sample, polychronicity and motivations increased the effects of media ownership on media multitasking. In the American sample, polychronicity contributed little to the effect of media ownership, and the mediating role of motivations decreased with the increase in the level of polychronicity.

Research paper thumbnail of Habit Formation in Wearable Activity Tracker Use Among Older Adults: Qualitative Study

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Background Wearable activity trackers are popular devices used to motivate behavior change. Weara... more Background Wearable activity trackers are popular devices used to motivate behavior change. Wearable activity trackers are especially beneficial for encouraging light physical activity such as walking, which is an ideal behavior for older adults or individuals who cannot be physically active at moderate and vigorous levels. A common problem is that people do not continue to use these wearable devices, with initial behavioral change gains eroding as people disengage. Limited research is available regarding the continued use of wearable activity trackers. The habit formation literature may provide insights into the long-term use of wearables and other health informatics devices. Objective This study aims to uncover the mechanism underlying the long-term continued use of wearable devices among older adults through the theoretical lens of habit formation. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants who were aged 65 years or older and had used wearable activity tracke...

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption of Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Can Be Increased When Multitasking with Screen Devices

Research paper thumbnail of Technology Use in Rural Dementia Care: Perspectives from Family Caregivers, PWD, and Service Professionals

Innovation in Aging

Purpose: The use of technology in dementia care has shown promising benefits for both people livi... more Purpose: The use of technology in dementia care has shown promising benefits for both people living with dementia and their family caregivers, however, little is known regarding how technology is used among families affected by dementia who reside in rural communities. The purpose of this study was to explore technology use and barriers among people living with dementia, family caregivers, and service professionals who live in rural areas of Michigan. Methods: This study was based upon focus group data from six groups of family caregivers (n=32); one group of people living with early stages of dementia (n=4), and one group of service professionals (n=4) recruited from rural counties in Michigan. Results: Technology use included assisting caregiving tasks (e.g., monitoring a wandering care recipient), facilitating treatment (e.g., access treatment through telemedicine), and providing social connection and support. Themes related to strategies included addressing educational needs of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Contrary to Myth, Older Adults Multitask With Media and Technologies, But Studying Their Multitasking Behaviors Can Be Challenging

Innovation in Aging

Background and Objectives The study’s objective was to explore older adults’ (aged 65 or older) d... more Background and Objectives The study’s objective was to explore older adults’ (aged 65 or older) descriptions of behavior related to multitasking with traditional and newer media/information and communication technologies (ICTs) and perceived benefits of such behavior, along with older adults’ preference for research methods used to study their multitasking behaviors. Employing common media-use measures that heavily rely on self-reporting in populations of older adults is challenging, especially given that patterns of media/ICT use are becoming increasingly complex. Cumulatively, people spend more time using media than they are aware of because of the tendency to use some forms of media simultaneously. As cognitive ability deteriorates with age, self-reported recollection of complex patterns of media/ICT use, such as multitasking, among older adults increases the threat to data accuracy. Research Design and Methods: Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults in a Midwestern U.S. s...

Research paper thumbnail of Using Qualitative In-Depth Interviews to Assess Smartphone Users’ Persuasion Knowledge Related to Health Mobile Apps Supported by Commercial, Governmental, and Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps used for promotion raise important questions about privac... more BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps used for promotion raise important questions about privacy of sensitive personal health information and digital advertising literacy. Although it is common that different types of organizations support mHealth apps for promotional purposes (e.g., sponsorship, owned apps), there is little understanding of users’ perceptions regarding the safety of personal data stored in mobile apps. Persuasion knowledge, or recognition of a sponsor’s presence, characteristics, intents, competencies, and persuasion tactics, is crucial to investigate because the abundance of mHealth apps makes it difficult for users to identify their true purpose and estimate privacy-related risks. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate smartphone users’ persuasion knowledge related to mHealth apps used as a promotional strategy by commercial, government, and non-profit/non-governmental organizations. This study also examines users’ willingness to share demographic an...

Research paper thumbnail of Factors Associated with Older Adults' Long-Term Use of Wearable Activity Trackers

Telemedicine and e-Health

Research paper thumbnail of Folk theorizing the quality and credibility of health apps

Mobile Media & Communication

Increase in availability and accessibility of health apps raises important questions regarding st... more Increase in availability and accessibility of health apps raises important questions regarding strategies smartphone owners use to determine what health apps to download. As mobile health apps aim at helping users manage their healthy lifestyles and health conditions, it is important for researchers, developers, and educators to know how individuals find and assess the quality and credibility of these apps, and what guides their decisions to download and use them. We conducted semistructured interviews using the think-aloud technique with 19 community members in a U.S. Midwestern city and analyzed the data using open coding thematic analysis to determine how smartphone users assess health apps before downloading them. We find users determined app credibility through quick, but holistic cues based on the app’s features, and “borrowed” credibility decisions from friends or other health app users. App quality was often equated to personal preferences, that is, how the app met those pre...

Research paper thumbnail of Screen overload: Pleasant multitasking with screen devices leads to the choice of healthful over less healthful snacks when compared with unpleasant multitasking

Computers in Human Behavior

Research paper thumbnail of Screen Addiction and Media Multitasking among American and Taiwanese Users

Journal of Computer Information Systems

Research paper thumbnail of Measuring smartphone usage and task switching with log tracking and self-reports

Mobile Media & Communication

Smartphones offer multimedia convergence in a single device, ubiquitous access to media, and cons... more Smartphones offer multimedia convergence in a single device, ubiquitous access to media, and constant connections with others. The rapid rise of smartphone use calls for more scholarly attention paid to users’ media usage and time expenditure. This study aims to (a) understand smartphone usage patterns by examining time spent using smartphones and task switching between mobile applications (apps), and (b) test the validity of self-reported measures of these behaviors by comparing self-reports with log data from the smartphone. Data were collected from 50 participants over 1 week. Results show that on average participants spent 2 hours 39 minutes on their smartphone and made 101 app switches per day. Among other findings, social networking was the most used app category, age was a significant demographic factor, and participants, especially heavy smartphone users, overestimated their mobile app usage. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Educational Setting and Stress on Multitasking Among Medical Students

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Wearable Activity Trackers Among Older Adults: A Focus Group Study of Tracker Perceptions, Motivators, And Barriers in Different Stages of Behavior Change (Preprint)

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Background: Wearable activity trackers offer the opportunity to increase physical activity throug... more Background: Wearable activity trackers offer the opportunity to increase physical activity through continuous monitoring. Viewing tracker use as a beneficial health behavior, we explored the factors that facilitate and hinder long-term activity tracker use, applying the transtheoretical model of behavior change with the focus on the maintenance stage and relapse. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate older adults' perceptions and uses of activity trackers at different points of use: from nonuse and short-term use to long-term use and abandoned use to determine the factors to maintain tracker use and prevent users from discontinuing tracker usage. Methods: Data for the research come from 10 focus groups. Of them, 4 focus groups included participants who had never used activity trackers (n=17). These focus groups included an activity tracker trial. The other 6 focus groups (without the activity tracker trial) were conducted with short-term (n=9), long-term (n=11), and former tracker users (n=11; 2 focus groups per user type). Results: The results revealed that older adults in different tracker use stages liked and wished for different tracker features, with long-term users (users in the maintenance stage) being the most diverse and sophisticated users of the technology. Long-term users had developed a habit of tracker use whereas other participants made an effort to employ various encouragement strategies to ensure behavior maintenance. Social support through collaboration was the primary motivator for long-term users to maintain activity tracker use. Short-term and former users focused on competition, and nonusers engaged in vicarious tracker use experiences. Former users, or those who relapsed by abandoning their trackers, indicated that activity tracker use was fueled by curiosity in quantifying daily physical activity rather than the desire to increase physical activity. Long-term users saw a greater range of pros in activity tracker use whereas others focused on the cons of this behavior. Conclusions: The results suggest that activity trackers may be an effective technology to encourage physical activity among older adults, especially those who have never tried it. However, initial positive response to tracker use does not guarantee tracker use maintenance. Maintenance depends on recognizing the long-term benefits of tracker use, social support, and internal motivation. Nonadoption and relapse may occur because of technology's limitations and gaining awareness of one's physical activity without changing the physical activity level itself.

Research paper thumbnail of Take a Break: Examining College Students’ Media Multitasking Activities and Motivations During Study- or Work-Related Tasks

Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social me... more A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social media, texting/instant messaging (IM), and music while studying/working and what motivates them to multitask with each medium. Four out of five participants multitasked with Facebook and texting/IM, and two out of three multitasked with music. Habit was the strongest motivation for multitasking that positively predicted multitasking frequency. Overall, multitasking with Facebook, texting/IM, and music differed by motivations. Multitasking with music was associated with entertainment and efficiency needs, while multitasking with Facebook/texting/IM was related to satisfying socialization, passing time, and escaping needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Double-Dipping Effect? How Combining YouTube Environmental PSAs With Thematically Congruent Advertisements in Different Formats Affects Memory and Attitudes

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 15252019 2015 1009524, Jan 28, 2015

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Wearable Activity Trackers and Older Adults: The Social Effect and Importance in Healthcare

Research paper thumbnail of Take a Break: Examining College Students' Media Multitasking Activities and Motivations During Study-or Work-Related Tasks

A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social me... more A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social media, texting/instant messaging (IM), and music while studying/working and what motivates them to multitask with each medium. Four out of five participants multitasked with Facebook and texting/IM, and two out of three multitasked with music. Habit was the strongest motivation for multitasking that positively predicted multitasking frequency. Overall, multitasking with Facebook, texting/IM, and music differed by motivations. Multitasking with music was associated with entertainment and efficiency needs, while multitasking with Facebook/texting/IM was related to satisfying socialization, passing time, and escaping needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Covid-19, Free Speech, Hate Speech: Implications for Journalism Teaching

"Covid-19, Free Speech, Hate Speech: Implications for Journalism Teaching", 2021

The essay stems from conversations and research from AEJMC's "Recommended Ethical Professional Fr... more The essay stems from conversations and research from AEJMC's "Recommended Ethical Professional Freedom & Responsibility Guidelines." It is from this perspective that we address the handling of free speech during the Covid-19 pandemic and how threats to free speech, particularly during racially charged periods, may affect teaching in journalism and mass communication programs. Further, we discuss instances in which free speech is used during a

Research paper thumbnail of Interpersonal Communication, Media Exposure, Opinion Leadership, and Perceived Credibility of News and Advertising During December 2012 Parliamentary Election in Kuwait

International Journal of Communication, Apr 15, 2015

This study investigates how a sample of Kuwaiti citizens engaged in interpersonal communication a... more This study investigates how a sample of Kuwaiti citizens engaged in interpersonal communication and used traditional and new media during the December 2012 parliamentary election in Kuwait. Hypotheses were developed based on an analysis of macro-level politico-economic and sociocultural factors that affect communication flows in the country and using a two-step flow of information framework. Consistent with predictions, respondents spent more time in interpersonal political discussions than using traditional media. Time spent in face-to-face conversations and on social media to obtain and exchange political information was equal, indicating that social media is an important channel of communication in the region. Newspaper and Internet ads were perceived as the most credible forms of advertising. Opinion leadership positively predicted news and advertising exposure, and perceived credibility mediated these effects.

Research paper thumbnail of If I choose when to switch: Heavy multitaskers remember online content better than light multitaskers when they have the freedom to multitask

Research paper thumbnail of Why do we multitask with media? Predictors of media multitasking among Internet users in the United States and Taiwan

The study explored how media and audience factors, such as country of residence, media ownership,... more The study explored how media and audience factors, such as country of residence, media ownership, polychronicity, or the preference to do multiple things at the same time, predict media multitasking behaviors and if different motivations to multitask mediate the effects of these factors. The study is based on a cross-cultural survey (N=1,972) that included respondents from the United States and Taiwan. The findings indicated that media ownership, polychronicity, and four motivations (control, entertainment, connection, and addiction) positively predicted media multitasking behaviors. The four motivations were also found to mediate the effect of media ownership. American respondents were higher polychronics and heavier multitaskers than their Taiwanese counterparts. In the Taiwanese sample, polychronicity and motivations increased the effects of media ownership on media multitasking. In the American sample, polychronicity contributed little to the effect of media ownership, and the mediating role of motivations decreased with the increase in the level of polychronicity.