Rational and Irrational Beliefs in Understanding Academic Procrastination

Abstract

Recently, along with the advancement of academic procrastination research, scholars have made tremendous efforts to understand different aspects of this construct, including its different forms, causes, correlated variables and consequences. Previous studies have noted that irrational beliefs were associated with procrastination, yet limited research has been conducted on this issue, particularly considering different forms of academic procrastination. The present study achieved two goals: a validation of the Rational and Irrational Beliefs on Procrastination (RIBP) scale and a test of the potential explanatory role of such beliefs in different forms of procrastination. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the validity of the two-factor RIBP scale. Hierarchical linear models were performed on each form of procrastination score in males and females separately. The two forms of procrastination exhibited different relation patterns to rational/irrational beliefs in different gender groups. Implications of the findings were discussed.