THE EFFECTS OF HEAVY WORKLOADS AND MULTITASKING ON THE

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE HIGH

SCHOOL STUDENTS AT ESCUELA CATOLICA DE SAN SEBASTIAN

A Research

Presented to

Althea Kate Fetalcorin

Angela Tale
Joriel Valdes

Junior High School

Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian

Presented by:
Xavier Ramon Borre
Dwyane Gavriel O. Cruz
Karl Aaron C. Flores
Cayenne A. Jacolbia
Glen Patrick R. Mantos
Adriane M. Orido
Fil Angelo M. Ramirez
Marithonie E. Reyes
Sophia Daphne M. Salamilao
Josh Alexis C. Sotelo
Bernadeth P. Villanueva
Rems Francis F. Villarde
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Quality and quantity are principal aspects of how it affects a person’s performance.

Having to deal with an extreme amount of tasks given in a short time can heavily affect the

quality of the expected outcome. Multitasking is a concept that has been suggested by

many and it involves a person simultaneously performing more than one task at a time.

This is determined by juggling priorities and switching the focus to different tasks.

Multitasking can improve a person’s productivity and increase the number of tasks done

without wasting too much time though it can have its disadvantage.

Heavy workloads greatly influence the performance of a person due to the stress

building up figuring out what and where to start. A person might often feel mentally

exhausted due to exaggerated handing out of activities and it has been one of the reasons

why a person loses the focus needed for a qualitative performance. It is important that we

should understand how every person is affected by the heavy amount of tasks given and

how it influences the quality of the person’s performance to find out what will be the most

outstanding solution to this problem and to determine whether multitasking will either

enhance or worsen the person’s productivity. This study aims to analyze the experiences of

the high school students of Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian about their strategies and

approach concerning excessive workloads and how multitasking affects positively or

negatively on their performance.

 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

With the increasing demands and expectations placed on students, it is vital to

understand how heavy workloads and multitasking can impact their mental health and

academic performance. When workloads are excessively heavy, it can result in extreme

pressure on students. Resulting in stress burnout and poor academic performance

according to a study by Dervin and Risquez (2015). Moderate academic demands increase

levels of motivation and academic achievement. Due to the demanding workloads,

students learned to develop time management and to multitask which is still not enough.

It holds significant relevance in the context of the education system, as students

often face increasing demands and expectations. By examining existing research and

literature, this study intends to identify the potential positive or negative consequences of

multitasking on students' ability to learn and succeed academically. Additionally, this

review aims to shed light on strategies that can assist students effectively manage their

workload and enhance their academic performance.

Most students work to complete workloads from school on the weekends rather than

relaxing and spending time with their families. It is better to reduce workloads so that

students can focus on their personal lives, as some students struggle with multitasking.

Most students, particularly those in high school, suffer from chronic health issues such as

sleep deprivation. As a result, it is essential to raise awareness for students who struggle to

balance their time between school and family.

 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to determine the effects of heavy workloads and multitasking on the
academic performance and productivity of the high school students at Escuela Catolica de
San Sebastian.

Specifically it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the student?

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Grade Level

2. What are the workloads given to the students by the teachers in terms of:

2.1 Written works

2.2 Performance tasks

3. What are the positive or negative effects of multitasking in managing demanding tasks
given to students?

4. What are the effects of heavy workloads on students' academic performance in terms of:

4.1 Written Works

4.2 Performance Tasks

4.3 Recitation
 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

According to Van den Schuur's (2015) Scattered Attention Theory, people who

have been exposed to multitasking for the longest periods of time are less able to focus on

activities. It asserts that switching between tasks frequently develops and strengthens

cognitive control and has a good impact on attention control. Although numerous studies

have shown that multitasking can impair performance. It divides pupils' attention, which

makes it more difficult for them to concentrate fully on a particular problem. For instance,

the pressure and stress of having double-decking workloads and attempting to do it all

within the allotted time causes students to fail the majority of their classes. Driving

performance declined as more tasks were completed during a driving simulation.

The Media Multitasking Index (MMI) is a metric used to assess the impact of a

single person's media multitasking. According to a recent study, younger adults with higher

MMI (i.e., a stronger propensity for media multitasking) are more likely to experience

attention-related problems. According to behavioral research, switching ability and focused

attention are the two categories into which multitasking and attention are divided. The

ability of an individual to switch between a condensed number of cognitive tasks is known

as divided attention or switching capacity. In light of the fact that media multitasking entails

a constant shifting of attention between different responsibilities and tasks.

 For the focused attention, It is the capacity to ignore distractions or interruptions.

According to several studies, heavy multitaskers (i.e., those who bounce between multiple

media channels while having multiple tabs open.) were less able to process concentrated

attention than light multitaskers.

Each of the High School pupils of Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian fits into one

of the two groups. Long-term media multitasking erodes people's ability to govern their

attention because some people have the switching capacity or ability to move their

attention to different tasks. Due to the enormous workloads, stress, and strain they are

under, students do not learn by multitasking since words and figures do not enter their

minds. This results in them failing written assignments like quizzes, examinations,

assessments, and seat work. Students who multitask will comprehend and remember less,

struggle to understand the subject and pick up new situations, and ultimately fail.

The focused attention, on the other hand. The capacity to focus on one task

uninterrupted by outside disturbances. Now, students are now divided into two groups:

heavy multitaskers and light multitaskers. While some people are productive and able to

handle multiple tasks at once, others are not. Heavy multitaskers, according to studies,

struggle more with attention control because they have so many things on their minds. This

makes it difficult for them to complete one activity, which makes them more confused and
disoriented. Not all pupils are skilled multitaskers, either. Some people only develop severe

multitasking skills as a result of the voluminous pendings placed at their tables.

Heavy workloads results to stress and anxiety, which affects the performance of a

student. Multitasking not only helps students to complete a work, but also inhibits some

from focusing due to the strain and stress of having loads of pendings on their table, which

lowers the ability and productivity and results in poorer performance.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This study aspires to find out if the effects of heavy workloads and multitasking on

the academic performance and productivity of the high school students of Escuela Catolica

de San Sebastian.

The paradigm illustrates in the figure that follows:

 Figure 1: IPO Research Paradigm

The Paradigm in Figure 1 demonstrates the whole expected process of this

research paper. In order to study the effects of heavy workloads and multitasking on a

student's performance, we will need to evaluate high school students to identify the areas

where students are struggling. This includes excessive workloads, lack of time

management, and the inability to juggle projects. These lacking areas should be improved

to achieve the best and full potential of the students by executing different types of

approaches that best help the students to exhibit their best performance.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study's main goal is to discover how challenging workloads and juggling several

activities influence a student's capability to produce high quality work and academic output.

This study will identify the underlying factors that hinder students from producing quality

material and working efficiently to complete tasks. The following are the six particular

groups that will benefit from this research paper:

Administrators. Administrators will be able to understand where to apply the necessary

support and resources of the school to enhance the learning environment and mitigate

influential factors that hinder the students from giving their utmost performance. This may
include implementing improvised policies and curriculum design that is centered around the

student's well-being.

Curriculum Planners. Curriculum planners will be able to find this study helpful as it

studies the possible outcome of the effects of heavy workloads and multitasking on

students' performance which serves as a manual that guides them in processing their

curriculum design and scheduling. Curriculum advisors can take into account the potential

downsides and make solutions around it this may include educating students on time

management techniques and assisting them in improving their curricular efficiency.

Educators. Educators can quickly grasp the problem and provide help to the students as

soon as possible. Educators can provide students more flexibility in their time management

and school work that allows them to stay productive and rested both in their study and

personal time.

Future Researchers. This study could serve as a reference and a source of ideas for

future researchers in their related study which can accelerate their time in understanding

the effects of heavy workloads or related effects on student's academic performance.

School. This study aims to aid the school grasp the bigger picture of the effects of heavy

workloads and multitasking on students so that it can provide the proper assistance and

resources to maintain the students' well-being and provide a productive learning

environment.
Students. Students can find out the key factors that hinder them in achieving their utmost

performance. Students can cooperate with their educators or come up with ways that

prevent their ability to produce quality work from being affected by influential factors.

HYPOTHESIS

Heavy workloads and multitasking affect the academic performance of the High

School Students of Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This research focuses on the High School Students in Escuela Catolica de San

Sebastian, Academic Year 2022-2023. It includes students from Grades 7, 8, and 9. The

general intent of this study is to determine The effects of heavy workloads and multitasking

on the academic performance and productivity of the Students at Escuela Catolica de San

Sebastian.

This study will gain important knowledge about the impacts of demanding

workloads, multitasking on academic performance and productivity, and productivity in a

particular high school environment by narrowing its scope.

 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

These keywords will be used throughout the research paper. To make sure that all

readers understand these words in the same way that the working group intended, the

following definitions are provided.

Academic performance. It is the ability to perform competently or insufficiently in

various academic-related tasks and activities. For instance, reciting in class. assessments,

outputs, and quarterly exams. These could also be interpreted as the measurement of

students' achievement across various academic subjects.

Heavy workloads. It Is an incident of having numerous different tasks to complete

in a given time that could result in stress and anxiety, impacting students' performance.

Multitasking. It is the act of working on multiple tasks by switching or juggling from

one task to another, either resulting in a loss of focus that could affect the quality of the

student's work or increasing the productivity of the student and avoiding time-consuming.

Productivity. It is the amount of work put into performing various tasks in which a

student's productivity can significantly affect one's performance in many pieces of work.

Student's well-being. It is the psychological, cognitive, social, and physical

functioning and capabilities that a student needs to effectively learn.

 Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents a review of related literature that studies the effects of heavy

workloads and multitasking on students' academic performance. This review of foreign and

local literature will provide a further explanation that validates this study.

According to the article “Juggling on a high wire: Multitasking Effects on

Performance” (2011) in the International Journal of Human-computer Studies states that

juggling multiple tasks is much more difficult while balancing on a high wire, where

performance mishaps can have serious consequences. It emphasizes that multitasking can

be a great tool for getting things done quickly and efficiently, but it can also lead to

mistakes and errors if we are not careful about how we juggle various tasks. Furthermore,

multitasking today is considerably more common since modern technology encourages

juggling multiple tasks and splitting your attention to accommodate various work. It is

important to limit the use of multitasking and focus on one task at a time, to maximize your

performance and limit obstructions to your productivity.

In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine (2016), researchers

determined that heavy media multitaskers are more susceptible to distractions from

irrelevant stimuli, resulting in greater problems focusing on important tasks. Students are

bombarded with numerous distractions throughout the workday. Distracted Students can

quickly lose focus on important tasks, often resulting in the loss of creativity and innovation.
Having too much work adds unnecessary stress, limits students’ social life, and can limit

students’ time for leisure. Studies indicate that when multitasking, we make up to 4 times

more errors and it can take up to 50% longer to accomplish a task. Students who do not

use their mobile phones in class can score a grade and a half higher than those who are

distracted by their phones. Workload components are the key task characteristics

influencing human performance which define how people accomplish a required work and

in what manner a person comprehends the task.

According to Medline Plus (2022), Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical

tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or

nervous. Stress is a mental reaction toward scenarios that we see as a challenge.

Academic stress is rampant among students—especially college students. In the

academic environment, high expectations, information overload, academic pressure,

unrealistic ambitions, limited opportunities, and high competitiveness are some of the

common sources of stress that create tension, fear, and anxiety in students (Sinha,

Sharma, & Nepal, 2001). The most common things that cause stress among students are

examinations, poor time management, noise, leaving assignments/tasks to the last minute,

and family problems. People may find the previous statement a cover-up for the student’s

laziness and negligence. Students who are constantly stressed about the stated things

above may have been in a constant state of pressure making them unable to function

properly. Their frequent exposure to stress had affected their mental health and made them

look like they are just lazy and incompetent.

 On the other hand, there are some people who claim that stress coming from

academic workloads does not justify why a student has a hard time completing tasks and

getting decent grades. They said that those students would not be stressed if they did

those tasks right away when it was given. Proper time management and a proper mindset

would blow their stress off and their mental health would be saved from the misery. These

people have a point but they have not critically thought of the situation and used a barrier in

critical thinking which inappropriate bias is. They should not dismiss the struggles of others

just because they have it easy or they can handle it better than others.

According to Li, X., Zhang, L., & Fang, X (2015). This qualitative study explored the

experiences of school overloading and academic stress among Chinese high school

students. The findings revealed that students faced intense academic pressure, heavy

workloads, and high expectations from parents and teachers. The study emphasized the

negative consequences of school overloading, including psychological distress and

reduced well-being.

This study investigated the relationship between multitasking and academic

performance among high school students. The results indicated that multitasking,

particularly while studying, was negatively correlated with academic performance. Students

who engaged in more multitasking reported lower grades and reduced productivity.

Multitasking is a trait that all Filipinos have, according to the University of the

Philippines in Cebu (2022). Because we are known for being extremely busy individuals,

we often multitask without even realizing it. conversing while working, dancing while
singing, and listening to music while doing housework. It is said that although most people

believe that multitasking speeds us up when we are overwhelmed with work, in reality, it

slows us down in all situations.

According to the article, microtasking prevents our brain from functioning to its fullest

capacity because it causes us to switch back and forth between tasks quickly rather than

doing and finishing two tasks at once. This causes us to lose track of what we are doing

and forget what needs to be done. After completing one job, our brain switches to another

to start over. Due to this, students exhaust themselves, and as a result of their constant

tiredness, they instantly hit their limitations and have problems such as falling asleep while

completing a ton of schoolwork.

Microtasking can also cause students to make more mistakes than usual, delaying

the completion of assignments that take longer to complete. It is also noted that this does

not imply that monotasking—concentrating on one task at a time without switching to

another—is more advantageous. Rather, it may allow students to complete one task with

fewer errors and the ability to focus on one task will keep them from quickly reaching their

limits. Instead, they are more likely to finish the activity in a better frame of mind and will

experience less stress and pressure. However, it will undoubtedly take up their time.

Based on the article, the key to successful multitasking is identifying the task which

requires different senses. Reading a story while listening to an audiobook will increase the

student’s understanding.
 Heavy workloads can both positively and negatively impact a student's capacity to

perform at their best, according to a DepEd article. According to research by Conley and

French (2014), putting stacks of work on each student's desk can raise productivity since it

forces them to complete their assignments on time. On the other hand, a study by Dervin

and Risquez (2015) found that excessive workloads cause stress, burnout, and subpar

academic results. It is said that the impact of a workload varies depending on the type of a

given task; for example, a writing-only assignment may not have the same impact as a

workload heavy on performance tasks, interviews, and other activities requiring social

interaction and bodily functions. In a study by Greene and Azevedo (2017), it was

discovered that a heavy workload results in a decrease in students' intrinsic motivation,

which is the internal drive to engage in an activity because it is interesting or enjoyable. It

was also mentioned that heavy activities affect students' motivation. A heavy workload can

also result in a decline in extrinsic motivation, which is the term for outside incentives that

encourage students to participate in academic activities, such as grades or rewards. To

achieve the best learning outcomes, it is crucial to strike a balance between academic

demands and students' motivation levels.

The main factors affecting human performance that determine how people complete

essential activities and how well they understand them are the workload components. Task

demand is defined as the relationship between the amount of time required to execute a

task and the amount of time that is available to do so. It was also noted that workload is a

combination of the operating system's available resources, task demand, and human

capacity. Workload affects an individual's capability and makes it less. An increase in the
task demand level could result in more mistakes and slower response times. High job loads

and complexity are regarded as two more of the most important variables in the decline of

performance quality. (Kurata et al., 2015)

According to an article from depedtambayan.net and the University of the

Philippines, heavy workloads can pose various difficulties for students, leading to increased

stress levels, limited time, and compromised learning experiences. The study suggests that

educators should strive to strike a balance between assigning meaningful tasks and

allowing sufficient time for students to comprehend and retain the material. These findings

offer valuable insights into how heavy workloads can impact student learning outcomes. At

Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian, it is important to utilize these insights to develop

strategies that optimize workload management for high school students.

The article also highlights the negative consequences of distractions, such as social

media usage and non-academic activities, on students' concentration and academic

performance. It emphasizes the need for practical approaches to enhance focus and

productivity while learning online. By implementing the actionable recommendations

provided in this source, both educators and students can address the challenges

associated with multitasking effectively.

 Additionally, depedtambayan.net and the University of the Philippines Cebu mention

that heavy workloads can have both positive and negative impacts on academic

performance. When the workload becomes overwhelming, it can lead to decreased

motivation, apathy, and disengagement from learning activities. Students often feel

exhausted by the number of tasks they need to complete, yet only a small portion of them

is accomplished. This imbalance affects their daily lives and contributes to stress levels.

Researchers from the Barcelona Academy of Marilao, Bulacan, in their study

“Optimizing Students’ Workload and its Effects on their Mental Health during Covid-19

Pandemic” (Abracero et al., 2021), concluded that demanding academic load will result in

tension and anxiety. Students’ mental health will be impacted if it continues for a long time.

Based on the study's findings, the researchers came to the conclusion that because

workloads were considered moderate, teachers should limit their students' academic

workloads and that the number of school days should be reduced so that students can give

more time to focus on their own personal lives.

According to Scholarum (2023), The study's findings emphasize important factors

that contribute to students' academic stress levels. It underscores the need for teachers to

adapt their teaching methods to meet the diverse learning needs of students in flexible

learning environments. Providing adequate support and resources to help students

understand their lessons is crucial, particularly when face-to-face interaction with teachers

is limited.
 To address these challenges, it is crucial for Escuela Catolica De San Sebastian to

find a balance between academic demands and students' motivation levels. Providing

adequate time and balancing workloads can help alleviate the pressure and stress that

many students experience. By implementing effective strategies for workload management

and promoting a healthy balance, the school can support optimal learning outcomes and

overall student well-being.

SYNTHESIS OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter tackles the literature and studies that relate to how heavy workloads

and multitasking affects the quality performance of a student. Foreign literature and studies

indicate that multitasking creates more errors because of various distractions and the

problem of what to prioritize first. It also focuses on how excessive workloads increase

academic stress which only leads to poor performance of a student. Local literature and

studies emphasize that heavy workloads cause stress and burnout. Too much workload

also leads to extrinsic motivation which lowers the quality of a student's performance.

Multitasking results in more mistakes than doing tasks normally. It can be more

efficient though it deprives the quality of the performance. It is preferable to limit the use of

multitasking and focus on one task at a time to reduce errors and improve the quality of the

performance. It is also recommended to maximize time and limit the distractions that affect

the productivity of a student.

 Chapter 3

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter provides details about the method of research and instrument used in

gathering information as well as the procedure of data gathering and analysis. It also

tackles the description of respondents and procedures to determine The effects of heavy

workloads and multitasking on the academic performance of the high school students of

Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian.

RESEARCH METHOD

The researchers will use a survey method of research to conduct the needed data.

Some processes will be done for the high school students of the Escuela Catholica De San

Sebastian.

This study will use a quantitative survey to determine the factors that can affect

students regarding heavy workloads and the struggle in multitasking. The characteristics of

this method were used as a tool to determine which factors significantly affect their

preference. This method gathers information to test the hypotheses and answer questions

concerning the factors.

 The researchers chose a quantitative questionnaire to determine the effects of

heavy workloads and multitasking on the academic performance of high school students at

Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

A survey questionnaire will be made by the researchers as the main data-gathering

tool. The researchers are to survey the high school students from grades 7 to 9 about the

effects of heavy workloads and multitasking on the academic performance and productivity

of the high school students at Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian. The questionnaire seeks

to answer the statement of the problem. The questionnaire includes:

Section (A): Respondent's Profile

Section (B): Type of Workload that the Students Struggle with

Section (C): Positives of Multitasking

Section (D): Negatives of Multitasking

Section (E): Effects of Heavy Workloads

Section (F): How Students Cope with Heavy Workloads

Each section delivers different information to the researchers. The questionnaire

consists of 18 questions, excluding the respondent's profile, and 20 questions if included.

 Figure 2: Survey Questionnaire

The survey questionnaire shown in Figure 2 uses a 4-point Likert scale which ranges from

Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. The factors given are about the positive and negative

effects of multitasking in managing heavy workloads and tasks. There are also factors

which are about the effects of heavy workloads on the academic performance of the high

school students that are struggling with this issue.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE RESPONDENTS

The respondents of this study will be the high school students from grade 7 to 9 of

Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian (A.Y 2022-2023). Within these sections, 60 students

will be chosen at random, with the number of 20 students per level. They will answer the

questionnaire that will be given by the researchers to gain the information that the

researchers need.

Students that experience burnout, stress, and pressure as a result of the continual

work-activity provided are among the 20 responses per level. Students who have been in a

difficult position and experienced breakdowns due to the large amount of tasks.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

The researchers have constructed a 4-point agree and disagree Likert scale survey

questionnaire with the use of Google Forms to collect crucial data from the respondents.

Before collecting the data from the respondents, the researchers will send the form to the

advisors for validation. After validation, the researchers proceed to gather data from the

respondents, grades 7, 8, and 9 of Escuela Catolica de San Sebastian.

 The Google form was divided into six sections, the “Respondent’s profile”, the “Type

of Workload the Students Struggle with”, the “Positives and Negatives of Multitasking”, the

“Effects of Heavy Workload” and “How Students Minimize the Problems”.

The first part contains demographic information about the respondent. The second

section consists of different varieties of workloads that the students have problems dealing

with. The third section includes the positive effects that multitasking has on students. On

the other hand, the fourth part contains the negatives. The fifth section determines the

effects of heavy workloads and how the students feel about multitasking and the burden of

heavy workloads. The last section gathers the strategies used by the students on how to

minimize double-decking workloads and maintain proper balance.

After distributing the form to the high school students of Escuela Catolica de San

Sebastian, the researchers provides the respondents with enough time to answer the

survey questionnaire. After giving the respondents enough time, the researchers transfers

the data to a spreadsheet which will be prepared for statistical analysis of the data

collected. There will be a statistical treatment that will be used in order to analyze the data

that will be retrieved from the survey questionnaire. From then, it will be easier to analyze

and summarize the data received from the survey.

 STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATA

The data, which was gathered from the questionnaire, was subjected to statistical

treatment in order to ensure the reliability of the results. The researchers used Weighted

Average Mean. The weighted mean, also known as the weighted average, is a statistical

measure that takes into account the weights or importance assigned to each value in a

dataset. It is calculated by multiplying each value by its corresponding weight, summing up

these products, and dividing the total by the sum of the weights.

The weighted mean provides a more accurate representation of the data when

certain values are more significant or have a greater impact on the overall average than

others. It is commonly used in research when different observations or data points have

varying levels of importance or influence.

Formula of Weighted Average :

Legend :

x̄ = mean n = number of terms

Σ = sum of terms x = value

w = weight