Understanding the Distraction and Distraction Mitigation Factors and Their Relationship with the Procrastination of Master’s and Doctoral Students in Administration

Abstract

The lack of studies on academic procrastination caused by distractions in the context of social isolation, during the COVID-19 pandemic, motivated the study that sought to answer: How do master’s and doctoral students perceive distraction and distraction mitigation factors in about your procrastinating behavior? Aiming to understand the distraction and attention mitigation factors that influence procrastinating behavior in the postgraduate academic context. This is qualitative research of phenomenological nature. The study participants are twenty-four students, twelve master’s students representing about 23% of the universe, and twelve doctoral students, corresponding to approximately 21% of the universe. Based on a literature review, a theoretical framework developed that allowed comparison with the earlier analysis categories and the data collected in the semi-structured interviews. The topics Academic Distraction Factors (ADF) and Academic Distraction Mitigation (ADM) generated 583 citations, finding sixty-one codes or subcodes. The lack of planning and work outside presented as complicating factors that lead to academic procrastination. Suitable time management and the use of tools to help manage learning are good allies in mitigating distractions.