I have often heard that those who knit/crochet while someone is speaking actually 'listen' better and retain the information better.

Does anyone have names of researchers or projects which show this?

I don't remember because I was knitting when I heard it.

(Translation--I can't speak for anyone else, but that's definitely not true for me.)

I'm not aware of any formal research study but many knitters have anecdotally reported they absorb and retain more information when they have the opportunity to knit during a lecture or meeting. Generally people will work on projects that do not require a great deal of concentration.

I know that knitting during lectures helps me stay awake which is probably the first step in retaining new information.

I had an official letter to give to teachers explaining that I needed to knit in class to retain the lesson. It may be anecdotal but a lot of parents of people with ADD and adults with ADD will tell you that knitting occupies enough of the ricochet rabbit brain to let the other part learn. I would be first in line to say so.

As a teacher . . . I knit in meetings to stay out of trouble and keep my mouth shut! In classes I take I always ask if I can knit and I do so, I don't doodle over all the notes.

However, The research now is that multi-tasking is not possible. Yes people do it all the time, they believe they are great at it but the research shows you are not able to give 100% to each task.

Now---knitting isn't like listen to an ipod and typing, or driving, being on the phone all at the same time. So I am not sure where the knitting and listening would come in together. A personal note is I tend to be more relaxed while knitting which I think would increase my listening ability.

My husband is the one who is usually reading lots of research. But if you go to eschool it is web site that posts a lot of educational news and research you might find something.

I always let students knit while I teach once they have learned to knit.

I never do color work, or aran work, or lace work while listening as I always mess it all up! A plain old sock or sts. is perfect for me! Which could be why I have sooooooooo many socks!

The recent research I have heard says a very small percentage of people can multitask well-something like 2%. For one reason or another, fighter pilots were mentioned as often being part of the 2%. Apparently, they were one group studied. I suspect other occupational groups might be able to multitask well, such as admin assts, or nurses, to mention a few. Clinically, I have had a number of (ADHD)clients who say they can concentrate better on homework while listening to music, pacing, etc.

There is research saying driving and texting or talking on a phone at the same time doesn't work.

I wonder also the level of attending to the tasks. Meaning knitting and listening as compared to the cell phone and driving as you have both hands engaged (doing different things) and the mind.

While knitting you have your hands doing the same thing and listening with your ears.

I know I knit and listen just fine---or think I am at least. I am have learned never to do color work or say work on an Aran. I only do the listening and knitting to stop boredom, keep my mouth shut and to knit sts.

I agree about some people doing quite well at multitasking. I can do 3 or 4 jobs at once and do them really well, whereas if I have just one job to do it bores me, I fidget, put off the end result and find other ways to postpone things. I actually am put in an angry mood if I only have one thing to concentrate on. Always have several things OTN so that if frustration sets in or something happens in one project I can slip over to another and deadlines always are met, UFOs become FO so it works for me.
I will knit, read a book, listen to the tv, carry on a conversation and never lose a beat or stitch. I can do needlepoint, listen to audiotapes about courses I am taking in school, get about 90% retention and an A or B on the test.
When I was in the service in a medical unit I was often commended on my abilitiy to do many jobs at once, keep in control and get them all done with a minimum of effort. It just feels right to me and I was even studied by an ergonomics specialist once and was told they didn't know how I did it but I did it well, so guess it isn't just my opinion.