Final answer:
Multitasking can result in a decrease in speed and accuracy of tasks, as well as the ability to prioritize effectively, due to divided attention and the brain's preference for focused tasks over juggling multiple activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person multitasks, several things can decrease due to divided attention. Three primary factors affected include:
- Speed – The rate at which a person completes tasks tends to slow down because the brain has to switch between tasks, rather than focusing on completing one task at a time.
- Accuracy – The likelihood of making errors increases because multitasking can cause a decrease in focus on each individual task.
- Ability to prioritize – It becomes more challenging to identify and focus on what's most important because all tasks are being attended to simultaneously, which can lead to inefficiencies and overlooking key tasks or details.
Thus, while multitasking, one's efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out tasks are compromised. The notion that multitasking increases productivity is a common misconception, as our brains prefer automated shortcuts and focused attention to multitask effectively.