The Impact of Mind-Wandering on Humans

THE IMPACT OF MIND-WANDERING ON HUMANS

Prepared for
Mr. Saqif Ansari
Lecturer
Department of Science and Humanities
FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences

By

Afifa Zahid (k142822)
Aqsa Ajmal (k142845)
Maryam Ayesha (k142827)
Tooba Qazi (k142844)

FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences

May 12, 2017

1. Abstract

Mind-wandering; referred as task-unrelated thought, is related to stimulus-independent thoughts. It is the experience of thoughts not remaining on a single topic for a long period of time, especially when individuals are engaged in an attention-demanding task. This research is carried out in order to recognize the impact of mind wandering on humans and their personality. Some lines of research suggest that it has negative impact on a human mind whereas others suggest that mind wandering has positive impacts. The aim of the study is to determine the influence of mind wandering on humans and to spread awareness to general public. The sample size of the data is 110 and it was collected from the general public which includes intermediate or undergraduate students, and employees by using questionnaire and online Google forms. The research is quantitative because it will be in numerical form which can be put into categories. After analyzing the data through SPSS software, we came to find out that 55% of the respondents have 30-70% positive impact of mind wandering on their mind and 45% respondents have less than 30% negative impact on their mind. 

Keywords: Mind-wandering, Human psychology, Human emotions

1. Executive Summary

This research report analyzes and evaluates the impact of mind-wandering on humans and their psychology. It discusses the relation between mind wandering and its impact on humans and determines how much people mind-wander and find how much it makes them stressed or pleasant.

The method used for analysis was quantitative which included questionnaires. The obtained results were evaluated using SPSS Software which was then represented through bar charts. All the calculations can be found in the appendices. The results obtained from the data show that the respondents are positive towards the impacts of mind-wandering on their emotions. It was found most people have positive impacts due to mind-wanderings. When comparing feelings, most of them agreed that mind-wandering causes sadness.

The limitation of this study was that mostly undergraduates and intermediate students were taken into account for the research. It is recommended to have a survey from more age groups who have experience in mind-wandering.

1. Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to our instructor Mr. Saqif Ansari for his support and guidance. Without his cooperation and encouragement, working on this report would

have been very difficult.

1. Table of Contents

(i)        Abstract        1

(ii)        Executive Summary        1

(iii)        Acknowledgements        2

1        INTRODUCTION        4

1.1        Background Information:        4

1.2        Problem Statement:        4

1.3        Research Questions:        5

1.4        Significance of Mind-Wandering:        5

1.5        Scope of the Report:        5

1.6        Delimitations of the Report:        5

1.7        Overview of the Report:        6

2        LITERATURE REVIEW        7

3        RESEARCH METHODOLOGY        9

4        DATA ANALYSIS        9

4.1        Quantitative Analysis        9

4.1.1        Survey        9

4.1.2        Thematic Analysis/ Findings:        9

5        CONCLUSION        18

5.1        Conclusion        18

5.2        Recommendations        18

5.3        References        18

1. INTRODUCTION

1. Background Information:

Thought can be partitioned into “stimulus-dependent” and “stimulus-independent” thought. Stimulus-dependent thought has a protest of center and stimulus-independent does not have a concentration and frequently wanders from theme to point reckless of any conscious direction. Mind-wandering; referred as task-unrelated thought, is related to stimulus-independent thoughts. It is the experience of thoughts not remaining on a single topic for a long period of time, especially when individuals are engaged in an attention-demanding task. Mind-wandering is an excellent indicator of individuals' happiness; it occupies a huge proportion of our life and occurs during driving, reading and other activities where caution might be low. In these circumstances, people do not recollect what happened in the surrounding environment because they are preoccupied with their thoughts.

The purpose of this report is to determine how often our minds leave the present. It is a predictor of our happiness than the activities in which we are engaged. Mind-wandering has been associated with possible car accidents and collisions, and intimately linked to states of affection. People spend most of their time pondering about something other than what they're doing, and this habit typically makes them miserable. The objective of this study is to analyze the relation between mind wandering and its impact on humans and will determine how much people mind-wander while being depressed and find how much it makes them miserable and stressed or pleasant.