The prevalence of procrastination in the college environment is extremely high with estimates that 80–90% of college students procrastinate when completing academic tasks. Since it impacts the majority of college students, early identification of an individual’s personality traits and behavioral delay discounting tendencies that may contribute to academic procrastination can lead to improved productivity and overall, a better college experience. The present study reviews what is already known about the relationships between personality and delay discounting with academic procrastination. Based on the review of the current literature, this study strives to reinforce and extend what is known about the relationships between these variables, improve the methodology used to examine these relationships, and provide a possible neural basis of procrastination. The proposed study will be conducted with first-year undergraduate student participants who attend Scripps College, over three academic terms (three participant samples). The study materials consist of two self-report personality measures (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Revised NEO Personality Inventory), a delay discounting task involving choices between hypothetical monetary rewards, and two measures of academic procrastination: a self-report measure (Procrastination Assessment Scale—Students) and a behavioral measure through course assignment submission. The study predicts that the typical academic procrastinator is introverted, perceptive, neurotic, and impulsive. In addition, an academic procrastinator has tendencies toward poor self-discipline, non-conscientious behavior, and preferences for discounted future rewards. Limitations of this study and future directions are also discussed.

Cette thèse se propose de contribuer à l’avancement des travaux en marketing sur le comportement d’achat et de report sur Internet. Dans ce travail, nous avons proposé une nouvelle vision du concept de report d’achat et de celui de la procrastination de l’achat. Après une étude qualitative et une revue de la littérature, nous avons identifié plusieurs causes potentielles du report de l’achat en ligne que nous avons classé en deux catégories, selon le type de report qu’elles induisent : Les causes du report subi et les causes du report choisi de l’achat en ligne. Nous avons ensuite testé l’effet de ces causes sur le report et sur sa durée et ce aussi bien en nombre de visites qu’en nombre de jours. A cet effet, deux modélisations ont été proposées. La première modélisation, qui concerne le report, a été testée au moyen d’une régression logistique binaire mettant en jeu sept déterminants du report. La deuxième modélisation, qui concerne la durée du report, a été testée au moyen de deux systèmes d’équations structurelles, le modèle global et le modèle réduit. Dans ce qui suit, nous présentons les apports théoriques et managériaux de la thèse, ainsi que les limites et les voies de recherches futures. 1. Apports de la recherche Cette recherche présente plusieurs contributions tant au niveau théorique que managérial. Ces apports sont développés ci-dessous. 1.1. Apports au niveau théoriqueCette recherche a permis de clarifier les ambiguïtés de la littérature autour des concepts de report et de procrastination. Nous avons proposé une nouvelle approche de ces deux concepts et mis en valeur l’existence de deux types de report : le report subi et le report choisi de l’achat. Après une revue détaillée de la littérature, nous avons contribué à une meilleure identification des causes du report de l’achat en ligne via une étude qualitative dédiée. Nous avons mis en valeur l’existence des causes du report subi et nous avons souligné l’importance de leur prise en considération dans l’explication du report d’achat et de sa durée.Ensuite, nous avons montré l’importance de quatre causes du report de nature situationnelle : La non-urgence, l’incertitude du besoin, le risque de la réalisation immédiate et la complexité. L’effet positif des trois premières causes a été testé et vérifié aussi bien sur le report que sur sa durée. L’effet positif de la complexité a été vérifié uniquement sur la durée du report en nombre de visites. L’effet positif du trait de procrastination a également été testé. Son effet sur la décision du report n’a pas été vérifié, mais son effet sur la durée du report via le risque de la réalisation immédiate et la complexité a été vérifié. Nous avons, par ailleurs, montré que le trait de procrastination a un effet positif sur la perception du risque général, du risque de la réalisation immédiate, de la complexité de l’achat ainsi que sur l’attitude négative envers l’achat en ligne. Cette recherche a également montré que la modélisation du trait de procrastination en haut de la chaine de causalité conduisant au report d’achat en ligne procurait un ajustement acceptable aux données, spécialement dans le cas d’un modèle réduit. Par ailleurs, nous avons développé la première échelle du trait de procrastination de l’acheteur en ligne. Nous avons également développé l’échelle de mesure du risque de la réalisation immédiate (Coût d’opportunité) et celle relative au degré de certitude du besoin. Enfin, nous avons adapté à partir d’échelles préexistantes les échelles d’attitude négative envers l’achat en ligne, du risque général de l’achat en ligne et de la complexité de l’achat en ligne. 1.2. Apports au niveau managérialLes résultats de cette recherche attirent tout d’abord l’attention des sites web marchands sur le fait qu’une majorité des répondants attribuent le report d’achat à des causes indépendantes de leurs volontés (report subi). / This thesis contributes to marketing works on the consumer delay in online purchases. In this work, we proposed a new vision of the concept of purchase delay and that of the procrastination of the purchase. After a qualitative study and a literature review, we identified several potential causes of the on-line purchase delay which we classified in two categories, according to the type of delay whom they lead: (1) The causes of the undergone online purchase delay and (2) the causes of the chosen online purchase delay. We then tested the effect of these causes on the online purchase delay and on its duration. For that purpose, two models were proposed. The first model, which concerns the “delay” was tested by means of a binary logistic regression involving seven determiners. The second model, which concerns the duration of the delay, was tested by means of two systems of structural equations. In what follows, we present the theoretical and manager contributions of the thesis, as well as the limits and the ways of futures researches. 1) Contributions of the researchThis research presents several theoretical and manager contributions. These contributions are developed below. a) Theoretical contributionsThis research allowed to clarify the ambiguities of the literature around the concepts of “delay” and “procrastination”. We proposed a new approach of these two concepts and emphasized the existence of two types of “delay” : “The undergone delay” and “the chosen delay”.After a literature review, we contributed to a better identification of the causes of the on-line purchase delay via a dedicated qualitative study. We emphasized the existence of the causes of the undergone delay and we underlined the importance of their taking into consideration in the explanation of the purchase delay and of its duration. Then, we showed the importance of four situational causes of the delay : The non-urgency, the uncertainty of the need, the risk of the immediate realization and the complexity. The positive effect of the first three causes was tested and verified as well on the “delay” as on its duration. The positive effect of the complexity was only verified on the duration of delay in number of visits. The positive effect of the online buyer trait procrastination was also tested. Its effect on the delay decision was not verified, but its effect on the delay duration via the risk of the immediate realization and the complexity was verified. We showed, besides, that the trait procrastination has a positive effect on the perception of the general risk, the risk of the immediate realization, the complexity of the purchase as well as on the negative attitude to the on-line purchase. This research also showed that the modelling of the online buyer trait procrastination at the top of the causality chain leading to on-line purchase delay got an acceptable adjustment to the data, specially in the case of the reduced model.Besides, we developed the first scale of the online buyer trait procrastination. We also developed a scale of the immediate purchase realization risk (Opportunity cost) and a third scale relative to the purchase need certainty degree . Finally, we adapted from pre-existent scales the scales of on-line purchase negative attitude, the on-line purchase general risk and the on-line purchase complexity. b) Managerial contributions The results of this search research draw first of all the attention of retail websites on the fact that a majority of online buyers the referees attribute their online purchase delay to causes independent from their wills (undergone delay ). Among these causes, a good part is presented by the online buyers as resulting from a failure of the site (persistent technical breakdowns, unavailability of the product, refusal of the credit card, etc.).

Recent conceptualizations of procrastination suggest that procrastination is akin to self-regulatory failure wherein the effect of good intentions is attenuated for individuals who tend to procrastinate. Some researchers speculate that this effect is due to subtle neurological deficits that make it more difficult for procrastinators to follow through with completing tasks. The present work examines this claim while also investigating two factors that should theoretically weaken the effect of intentions for engaging unpleasant, but important, tasks – namely habitual avoidance and the executive function of inhibition. Study 1 investigated the question of whether chronic avoidance patterns may become so entrenched that they take on the qualities of a habit. This is important because habits are known to be less reliant on intentions because they are triggered in a relatively automatic fashion. Habit indices were created which assessed the degree to which the experience of avoiding particular tasks was automatic and self-descriptive in nature (Verplanken & Orbell, 2003). The results confirmed the expectation that more frequent avoidance patterns are experienced as occurring relatively automatically. Habit-like avoidance can be measured reliably and is related to other constructs in expected ways. For example, habit-level predicts reduced task quality and lower rates of task completion above-and-beyond motivational variables (e.g. intentions). Finally, habit-like avoidance patterns were more often associated with stable features identified by participants as being present in the environment. Using a prospective design, Study 2 assessed the degree to which existing habitual-avoidance patterns weakened the effect of good intentions to carry out unpleasant tasks over the course of a week. Several computer tasks at Time 1 were also used to assess inhibitory control or the degree to which participants could inhibit prepotent responses. In addition to personality traits which purportedly moderate the intention-behaviour relation (e.g. trait procrastination), the moderating effects of habitual avoidance and inhibitory control were also tested. Trait-level procrastination did not weaken the effect of one’s intentions to carry out unpleasant tasks. However, habitual avoidance and inhibitory control jointly moderated the effect of intentions on behaviour such that poor inhibitors had difficulty overcoming previous avoidance habits in order to complete unpleasant tasks during the week. In contrast, good inhibitors were able to behave according to their intentions irrespective of habit-like avoidance patterns. These findings point to the importance of recognizing the joint influence of avoidance patterns and regulatory capacities involved in self-control when understanding procrastination behaviour.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 31 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-31).

Recent conceptualizations of procrastination suggest that procrastination is akin to self-regulatory failure wherein the effect of good intentions is attenuated for individuals who tend to procrastinate. Some researchers speculate that this effect is due to subtle neurological deficits that make it more difficult for procrastinators to follow through with completing tasks. The present work examines this claim while also investigating two factors that should theoretically weaken the effect of intentions for engaging unpleasant, but important, tasks – namely habitual avoidance and the executive function of inhibition. Study 1 investigated the question of whether chronic avoidance patterns may become so entrenched that they take on the qualities of a habit. This is important because habits are known to be less reliant on intentions because they are triggered in a relatively automatic fashion. Habit indices were created which assessed the degree to which the experience of avoiding particular tasks was automatic and self-descriptive in nature (Verplanken & Orbell, 2003). The results confirmed the expectation that more frequent avoidance patterns are experienced as occurring relatively automatically. Habit-like avoidance can be measured reliably and is related to other constructs in expected ways. For example, habit-level predicts reduced task quality and lower rates of task completion above-and-beyond motivational variables (e.g. intentions). Finally, habit-like avoidance patterns were more often associated with stable features identified by participants as being present in the environment. Using a prospective design, Study 2 assessed the degree to which existing habitual-avoidance patterns weakened the effect of good intentions to carry out unpleasant tasks over the course of a week. Several computer tasks at Time 1 were also used to assess inhibitory control or the degree to which participants could inhibit prepotent responses. In addition to personality traits which purportedly moderate the intention-behaviour relation (e.g. trait procrastination), the moderating effects of habitual avoidance and inhibitory control were also tested. Trait-level procrastination did not weaken the effect of one’s intentions to carry out unpleasant tasks. However, habitual avoidance and inhibitory control jointly moderated the effect of intentions on behaviour such that poor inhibitors had difficulty overcoming previous avoidance habits in order to complete unpleasant tasks during the week. In contrast, good inhibitors were able to behave according to their intentions irrespective of habit-like avoidance patterns. These findings point to the importance of recognizing the joint influence of avoidance patterns and regulatory capacities involved in self-control when understanding procrastination behaviour.

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Prokrastinering innebär att frivilligt skjuta upp en viktig aktivitet, trots vetskapen om att det leder till stress, ångest och ytterligare negativa konsekvenser. Enligt forskning anses 80-95 % av alla högskolestudenter prokrastinera,  50 % av studenterna uppger att detta leder till problem. Self-efficacy är individens tilltro till den egna förmågan att klara av saker. Syftet med studien var att undersöka prokrastinering i relation till self-efficacy och studieresultat. Metoden som användes var en webbenkät där två mätinstrument kombinerades, varav dessa är välkända inom forskning på området, Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students samt College Academic Self-efficacy Scale. Därtill adderades ett flertal frågor som mätte studieresultat. I undersökningen deltog 426 högskolestudenter varav 141 män. Resultatet visade på signifikanta samband mellan prokrastinering och sämre studieresultat, samt mellan prokrastinering och låg self-efficacy. Uppskjutande är ett destruktivt beteende som kan ge allvarliga konsekvenser på flera områden. Av den orsaken bör det vara viktigt att bedriva forskningen vidare.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between active procrastination, self-regulated learning and academic achievement. Participants included 108 undergraduate students enrolled in a first-year elective course at a Canadian university. Students reported their level of active procrastination, cognitive and metacognitive strategy use, self-efficacy for learning and performance, goal quality and self-reported goal attainment over the semester. Measures included the self-report Active Procrastination Scale (APS; Choi & Moran, 2009), the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ; Pintrich Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie, 1991) and weekly reflections. Findings revealed: (a) active procrastination was significantly positively related to academic achievement, (b) the ability to meet deadlines was the component of active procrastination most related to SRL variables, and (c) self-reported goal attainment accounted for the most variance in ability to meet deadlines score. Further research is needed to explore the central role of ability to meet deadlines in active procrastination and the order in which SRL variables, active procrastination and negative influence of procrastination predict academic achievement. / Graduate

Using a mixed methods approach, this dissertation included two studies exploring procrastination and academic motivation beliefs of adolescents from Canada and Thailand. Study 1 examined the relationships between procrastination, motivation beliefsself-efficacy, self-efficacy for self-regulated learning, self-esteem, and test anxietyand academic performance and explored significant predictors of adolescent procrastination across two cultures. In this study, 312 Canadian and 401 Thai adolescents from secondary schools in an urban area in western Canada and an urban area in North-Eastern Thailand completed a 47-item survey containing procrastination and four motivation measures. In Study 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Thai adolescents representing low and high achieving students, to provide additional information about the role of motivation on adolescent procrastination and investigate academic procrastination of Thai adolescents in more depth. The quantitative findings demonstrated that all motivation variables significantly predicted procrastination, with self-efficacy for self-regulated learning strongly influencing adolescents across cultures. Findings from the qualitative study revealed six themes pertaining to academic procrastination: a) definitions of procrastination, b) antecedents of procrastination, c) consequences of procrastination, d) overcoming procrastination, e) the role of motivation, and f) the role of cultures on motivation, achievement, and procrastination. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated and discussed in order to provide insights into adolescent procrastination. Theoretical and educational implications as well as suggestions for future research were also provided. / Psychological Studies in Education

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-148). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.