Procrastination and Delay: Exploring Differences in Intentional and Unintentional Delays

• In Event: Poster Session 15
  In Poster Session: Instructional and Learner Factors That Affect Student Outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between students who intentionally delayed, unintentionally delayed, or did not delay a recent academic task. While some recent research suggests that some students might intentionally procrastinate for positive or adaptive reasons such as achieving flow, other research suggests that procrastination is associated with decreased self-regulation, motivation, and flow. Student volunteers were asked to think about a recent academic project or paper while they completed online questionnaires concerning their procrastination, flow, and self-regulation. The majority of students reported intentionally delaying the task that they had in mind. Findings revealed mostly non-significant differences between those who intentionally delayed and those who unintentionally delayed. Both intentional and unintentional delayers exhibited higher procrastination than non-delayers.

Authors

• Chad C. Mortensen, Midlands Technical College

• Raymond B. Miller, University of Oklahoma