Operationalizing a more comprehensive conceptualization of polychronicity: A consideration of single-tasking, task-switching, and dual-tasking

Abstract

Polychronicity, the preference for multitasking, is becoming increasingly important in modern workplaces, but extant research is limited by an incomplete view of the construct. Existing measures of polychronicity assess preferences for task-switching alone, despite multitasking consisting of both dual-tasking and task-switching. To resolve this tension, we undergo a three-study scale development process to create and validate two comprehensive measures of polychronicity capturing preferences for task-switching and dual-tasking. We also consider whether monochronicity (preferences for single-tasking) and no preference are antipolar dimensions, and we investigate the effectiveness of two different assessments: a Likert scale and a novel vignette format. Results support the distinctiveness of task-switching and dual-tasking preferences, confirm monochronicity as an antipolar dimension of polychronicity, and identify no preference as a related but distinct construct. Both assessment formats effectively measured polychronicity and demonstrate incremental validity in predicting peer-rated multitasking behaviors and work performance beyond existing scales. These findings expand our understanding of individual differences in multitasking preferences and offer new tools for assessing this important construct in work settings.