Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World · chapter 2 · id deep-work-c2-01-attention-residue-from-task-sw

“Attention residue from task switching significantly degrades performance on subsequent tasks (Sophie Leroy, 2009).”

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Receipts

Leroy, S. (2009). Why is it so hard to do my work? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 109(2), 168-181.paywalled — manual check queued

Results from two experiments show that people need to stop thinking about one task in order to fully transition their attention and perform well on another. Yet results indicate it is difficult for people to transition their attention away from an unfinished task.

UW Bothell News: Leroy receives 2024 Distinguished Research Awardsource alive

Leroy has continued to research and publish on attention residue since 2009, receiving the 2024 UW Bothell Distinguished Research Award for this work.

Leroy & Glomb (2018). Tasks Interrupted. Organization Science.paywalled — manual check queued

Extends the 2009 findings to show that having a 'ready-to-resume' plan mitigates attention residue effects during interruptions.

This claim is a stable, citable object. If you can falsify a verdict, tell us — corrections are loud here.