The Science Of Dallying
By Steve Robinson
Procrastination. A terrible condition that reportedly affects as much as 20% of the general population, leaving even the most intelligent minds lost in a world of doodling, email-checking and day-dreaming. However, there is light at the end of the meandering tunnel.
A Canadian professor has recently published a paper analysing procrastination to a scientific degree and even returning a formula to predict time-wasting!
Dr Piers Steel of the University of Calgary conducted research into the affliction and based his analyses on 691 previous papers on the subject. He identified the key predictors of procrastination, namely, task aversiveness, impulsiveness, distractibility, and potential achievement when motivated.
"Essentially, procrastinators have less confidence in themselves, less expectancy that they can actually complete a task," Dr Steel said. "Perfectionism is not the culprit. In fact, perfectionists actually procrastinate less, but they worry about it more."
He cites the difference between procrastination and a simple delay as an individual realising it would be beneficial to begin a task immediately, only for them to still not begin due to a variety of reasons. These temptations seem more desirable because they are nearby and easily accessible:
"Temptations that are close at hand are difficult to resist. Addicts often relapse after returning from treatment facilities because drugs and alcohol become easily available and daily habits reassert themselves. Or we load up on bread in the restaurant before the meal is served. Or we check our email 10 times an hour instead of completing a project."
All is not lost, however, and the key to avoiding such temptations - the inevitable cause of procrastination - may be as simple as willpower.
"The old saying is true: 'Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right'," Steel says. "And as you get better at self control, your expectancy about whether you can resist goes up and thus improves your ability to resist."
Of course, the hardest part is making that first willpower-laden step to doing what needs to be done. Thankfully, Dr Steel has combined the various facets of procrastination into one handy formula, so you can even predict how likely you are to procrastinate for a given task! He combined the variables - the desirability of the task (Utility), variables task completion expectancy (E), the value of completing the task (V), the immediacy of the job at hand (Ã), and the individual's sensitivity to delay (D) - into the formula:
A Canadian professor has recently published a paper analysing procrastination to a scientific degree and even returning a formula to predict time-wasting!
Dr Piers Steel of the University of Calgary conducted research into the affliction and based his analyses on 691 previous papers on the subject. He identified the key predictors of procrastination, namely, task aversiveness, impulsiveness, distractibility, and potential achievement when motivated.
"Essentially, procrastinators have less confidence in themselves, less expectancy that they can actually complete a task," Dr Steel said. "Perfectionism is not the culprit. In fact, perfectionists actually procrastinate less, but they worry about it more."
He cites the difference between procrastination and a simple delay as an individual realising it would be beneficial to begin a task immediately, only for them to still not begin due to a variety of reasons. These temptations seem more desirable because they are nearby and easily accessible:
"Temptations that are close at hand are difficult to resist. Addicts often relapse after returning from treatment facilities because drugs and alcohol become easily available and daily habits reassert themselves. Or we load up on bread in the restaurant before the meal is served. Or we check our email 10 times an hour instead of completing a project."
All is not lost, however, and the key to avoiding such temptations - the inevitable cause of procrastination - may be as simple as willpower.
"The old saying is true: 'Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right'," Steel says. "And as you get better at self control, your expectancy about whether you can resist goes up and thus improves your ability to resist."
Of course, the hardest part is making that first willpower-laden step to doing what needs to be done. Thankfully, Dr Steel has combined the various facets of procrastination into one handy formula, so you can even predict how likely you are to procrastinate for a given task! He combined the variables - the desirability of the task (Utility), variables task completion expectancy (E), the value of completing the task (V), the immediacy of the job at hand (Ã), and the individual's sensitivity to delay (D) - into the formula:
Utility = E x V/ÃD
Finally, it is suggested that the roots of developing procrastinating behaviour may in fact be genetic. So if your parents flit around the house instead of doing their taxes, and you impulsively check emails instead of mowing the lawn, then chances are your kids will have no chance of avoiding the curse of procrastination!
Steel concludes: "Continued research into procrastination should not be delayed, especially because its prevalence seems to be growing."
Here at the Null we’d like help such fine research so we’re all going to… oooh is that the Simpsons on tv?
Read more of Steve's articles and find out a bit about the man himself here.
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