Desk Organization and Task Efficiency: A Within-Subjects Quasi-Experiment on Puzzle Completion Time Among First-Year Civil Engineering Students

This study examined whether desk organization influences task completion time among first-year Civil Engineering students at First City Providential College. Using a quasi-experimental within-subjects design, 30 participants completed a Kanoodle puzzle under two workstation conditions: an organized desk and a disorganized desk. Completion time (seconds) was recorded using a stopwatch across both conditions, with condition order alternated to mitigate sequence effects. Results indicated that participants completed the task faster under the organized-desk condition (M = 55.63, SD = 11.42) than under the disorganized-desk condition (M = 68.13, SD = 14.75). A paired-samples t-test confirmed a statistically significant difference, t(29) = −3.39, p = .002, supporting the hypothesis that desk organization improves task efficiency. The findings align with the view that workspace order can reduce visual distraction and support focused task execution, highlighting practical implications for student study environments when completing time-bound cognitive tasks.