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Perspectives for research of the procrastination phenomenon in professional work

Perspectives for research of the procrastination phenomenon in professional work

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Recieved: 11/02/2015

Accepted: 11/27/2015

Published: 12/31/2015

p.: 130-140

DOI: 10.11621/npj.2015.0413

Keywords: procrastination; “active” procrastination; “passive” procrastination; academic procrastination

Available online: 31.12.2015

To cite this article:

Barabanshchikova, V.V., Marusanova Galina I.. Perspectives for research of the procrastination phenomenon in professional work. // National Psychological Journal 2015. 4. p.130-140. doi: 10.11621/npj.2015.0413

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Issue 4, 2015

Barabanshchikova, V.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Marusanova Galina I. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Abstract

The paper describes the current state of the procrastination phenomenon in professional work, reviews the basic unexplored aspects in this area, and highlights the promising areas of scientific analysis. The survey of the existing literature periodization shows that the quantity of researches devoted to procrastination is growing exponentially every year. In spite of a pronounced research interest in this construct, in native and foreign psychological science procrastination phenomenon in the professional work is represented insufficiently. Firstly, there is no common and generally accepted definition of procrastination (Corkin, Yu, Lindt, 2011; Steel, 2010; Krause, Freund, 2014), that suggests that there is a deep terminological crisis in this area. Secondly, the characteristic of delaying the implementation of the elements of workload is represented only by the example of a fairly narrow range of professional activities, which makes it relevant to study the specificity of the differentiated functioning of the phenomenon on the material of a wide range of professions. Thirdly, in psychology there are no information about the peculiarities of the so-called “active” procrastination manifestations in professional activity, which is the tendency of conscious assignments delaying to achieve the optimum final result (Chu, Choi, 2005; Choi, Moran, 2009). Fourthly, there is an acute shortage of standardized psychodiagnostic tools to evaluate this phenomenon in work (most of the existing methods have been tested on samples of students and are aimed at identifying academic procrastination). In the fifth place, there are no science-based allocation of methods of coping with destructive manifestations of the psychological strategy of the job functions postponement in a professional work.

Table 1. Statistical summary of scientific publications on the phenomenon of procrastination, as of 1985-2015 by decade

Time period

before 1985

1985 - 1995

1995 - 2005

2005 - 2015

Number of Publications, %

1.1

6.8

26.1

66

Table 2. Statistical summary of scientific publications on the phenomenon of procrastination, as of 1985-2015 by lustrum

Time period

1980-1985

1985-1990

1990-1995

1995-2000

2000-2005

2005-2010

2010-2015

Number of Publications, %

1.1

2.3

4.5

10.2

15.9

23.9

42.1

Table 3. Research features of procrastination phenomenon in the labour force

Job Position

Occupation

Research Drection, Bibliographic Reference

Sphere of Education

Experts

Teachers of High School

Features and causes of procrastination in pedagogical activity (Seo, 2012)

Procrastination relationship with occupational stress (Van Wyk, 2004)

The relationship of procrastination, occupational stress (as an intermediate variable) and job satisfaction (Mohsin, Ayub, 2014)

Managerial Personnel

School Principal and School Deputy Principal

The relationship between procrastination and decision-making styles (Ugurlu, 2013)

College Administration (Management)

The relationship of behavioural tendencies to procrastination with self-esteem and a tendency to perfectionism (Ying, 2012)

Other Professional Spheres

Experts

IT-specialists, members of virtual project teams

The relationship between the propensity for procrastination and the level of severity of occupational stress (Barabanshhikova, Kaminskaja, 2013)

Management

Managers and heads of IT- companies and financial institutions

The degree of procrastination in reference with the time perspective of personality types (Parsons, Soucie, 1988)

Administration of the governing bodies of the physical culture and sport

Features of functioning of procrastination phenomenon in connection with the specific management activities (Gupta, Hershey, Gaur, 2012)

Table 4. Comparative characteristic features of «passive» and «active» procrastination

"Passive" procrastination

"Active" procrastination

The initial absence of intention to delay the execution of affairs

Awareness of capabilities of timely treatment to the assignment

Delaying the solution of problems due to the inability to make quick decisions

Conscious postponement of doing things with a view to focusing on the most important and priority

Table 5. Comparative characteristics of the psychological features of people who are prone to the «passive» or «active» procrastination, and individuals who do not display a tendency to procrastination

"Passive" Procrastinator

"Active" Procrastinator

"Non-Procrastinator"

Time Control

Shallow focus of spending time;The low level of interim control

The targeted time management; The high level of temporary control

-

High value of personal level of control time

Low Value of personal level of control time

High level of time structuring

Low level of time structuring

Self-efficacy

Relatively low levels of self-efficacy assessment

High levels of self-efficacy assessment

Motivational Orientation

Severe expression of extrinsic motivation activities

-

Low expression of extrinsic motivation activities

Coping Strategies with Sress

Low utilization of coping strategies, stress management, goal-oriented

Using the productive coping goal- oriented and stress management strategies

Using avoidance strategies in stressful situations

Low degree of using avoidance strategies in stressful situations

Individual Characteristics

Low levels of satisfaction with life; Expressing feelings of stress and depression; Low GPA

The high level of satisfaction with life; Low levels of depression and stress; High GPA


Table 6. Ordering the techniques aimed at diagnosing of procrastination


Designation method

Author Board

Year of Publication

Sample Characteristics

Original Techniques and Methods

Aitken Procrastination Inventory (API)

M.E. Aitken

1982

College Students

Procrastination Log - Behavior

F.G. Lopez, C.A. Wambach

1982

University Students

Procrastination Assessment Scale - Student (PASS)

L.J. Solomon, E.D. Rothblum

1984

College Students

Procrastination Self-Statement Inventory (PSSI)

P.R. Grecco

1984

University Students

General Procrastination Scale (GPS)

C. Lay

1986

College Students

Adult Inventory of Procrastination (AIP)

W.G. McCown, J.L. Johnson

1989

University Students

Test Procrastination Questionnaire (TPQ)

P. Kalechstein, D. Hocevar, J.W. Zimmer, M. Kalechstein

1989

University Students

Tuckman Procrastination Scale (TPS)

B.W. Tuckman

1991

College Students

Academic Procrastination State Inventory (APSI)

H.C. Schouwenburg

1995

University Students

Academic Procrastination Scale (APS)

N. Milgram, Y. Toubiana

1999

Adolescents (Age: 13-16 years) and their parents *

Active Procrastination Scale (APS)

J.N. Choi, S.V. Moran

2009

University Students

Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS)

P. Steel

2010

Adolescents (Mean age - 14 years)

The Russian-Language Adaptation

General Procrastination Scale (GPS)

C. Lay (Adaptation by О.С. Windeker, M.V. Ostanina)

1986 (2014)

University Students

Procrastination Assessment Scale - Student (PASS)

L.J. Solomon, E.D. Rothblum (Adaptation by M.V. Zvereva)

1984 (2015)

Females and males, age: 18-25 years, education is not lower than complete secondary education

* Parents of participants were offered to recall possible procrastination events from their childhood



Fig. 1. Specific features of procrastination manifestations in various activities

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To cite this article:

Barabanshchikova, V.V., Marusanova Galina I.. Perspectives for research of the procrastination phenomenon in professional work. // National Psychological Journal 2015. 4. p.130-140. doi: 10.11621/npj.2015.0413

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