Structural relationships among academic procrastination, academic motivation, and problem solving skill in prep class college students

Abstract

Academic procrastination has been one of the major problems among students from different levels of education, specifically for college students. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of problem solving skill, a kind of cognitive skill, as well as academic motivation on academic procrastination behaviors of university students. In this explanatory correlational research study, 509 college students who enrolled in an extensive English language program at a public university in Turkey were included. As data collection tools, Tuckman procrastination scale, academic motivation scale and problem solving skill inventory were used. After testing our proposed theory through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), we found that problem solving skill had a strong effect on academic procrastination. We provided evidence showing that academic procrastination was a function of problem solving skill and academic motivation, rather than driven by intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. The current study emphasizes that academic procrastination behavior is related to the problem solving skill and presents a different perspective that should be taken into consideration in dealing with academic procrastination behaviors.