# Multitasking while studying – grit moderates the relationship of situational motivation and multitasking

## TL;DR

This study explores how students' motivation and personality trait grit influence their tendency to multitask while studying.

## Contribution

The study reveals that grit moderates the relationship between controlled motivation and multitasking during studying.

## Key findings

- Students multitasked less when their study motivation was autonomous rather than controlled.
- Grittier students were less likely to multitask when their motivation was controlled.
- There was no direct effect of grit on multitasking, but an interaction effect was found.

## Abstract

Multitasking during studying is frequent among students. In this experience sampling study we examine if multitasking during studying can be explained by situational study motivation and the personality trait grit; and if grit moderates the relationship of situational motivation and multitasking. Eighty-eight students participated. All participants planned to write an important exam within the upcoming 2 weeks. Situational motivation was conceptualized along the lines of self-determination theory, differentiating between autonomous and controlled motivation. Also, we assessed students’ grit. Hypotheses were tested using multilevel modeling in MPlus. As predicted, students multitasked less when situational study motivation was autonomous (vs. controlled). Contrary to predictions, we did not find a significant main effect of grit on multitasking. However, the interaction effect was significant, indicating that in situations with relatively controlled study motivation grittier students are more likely to refrain from multitasking than their less gritty peers.