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Self-Report Measures of Procrastination Exhibit Inconsistent Concurrent Validity, Predictive Validity, and
Lisa Vangsness1, Nathaniel M Voss2, Noelle Maddox1
1Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|March 14, 2022
Summary
Self-report procrastination measures show good reliability but weak prediction of actual task delay behaviors. Researchers must carefully select tools and investigate the gap between self-perception and real-world procrastination.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Procrastination is a common issue, but its link to actual task engagement needs clarification.
- Existing research questions the accuracy of self-reported procrastination compared to behavioral outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate 10 self-report procrastination measures for reliability and validity.
- To assess the predictive power of these measures against behavioral indicators of delay.
Main Methods:
- Collected data from 242 students on 10 self-report procrastination instruments.
- Used correlation, cluster analysis, and Lasso estimation to compare self-reports and predict behavioral delay (study completion time, pacing).
Main Results:
- Self-report measures demonstrated strong internal reliability and moderate concurrent validity.
- Some measures predicted study completion time, but none predicted deadline action pacing.
- Several self-report instruments showed poor overall fit to the data.
Conclusions:
- Researchers should use caution when selecting self-report procrastination measures.
- Further investigation is needed to understand discrepancies between self-reported procrastination and behavioral delay.
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