Postdoctoral Fellow Psychology
My research investigates how people make reward-driven decisions while multitasking. Multitasking is a complex process whereby people deploy cognitive control resources in switching rapidly between tasks, rather than actually performing multiple tasks simultaneously. Switching between tasks is more difficult and cognitively demanding than simply repeating the same task. Evidence from previous research suggests that the cost associated with switching tasks can be attenuated by incentivizing the task switch. My research aims to understand exactly how people balance pursuing potential rewards with avoiding cognitive effort in multitask environments. Specifically, my master’s thesis investigates whether the reward associated with performing a task is incorporated into that task’s task set – the cognitive tools and mappings used to execute a task – or whether reward information is held in a separate representation altogether.