On the measurement of procrastination: Comparing two scales in six European countries
Permanent link
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10258Date
2016-08-31Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
Svartdal, Frode; Pfuhl, Gerit; Nordby, Kent; Foschi, Gioel; Klingsieck, Katrin; Rozental, Alexander; Carlbring, Per; Lindblom-Ylänne, Sari; Rębkowska, KajaAbstract
Procrastination is a common problem, but defining and measuring it has been subject to
some debate. This paper summarizes results from students and employees (N = 2893)
in Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Sweden using the Pure Procrastination
Scale (PPS) and the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS; Steel, 2010), both assumed
to measure unidimensional and closely related constructs. Confirmatory factor analyses
indicated inadequate configural fit for the suggested one-factor model for PPS; however,
acceptable fit was observed for a three-factor model corresponding to the three different
scales the PPS is based on. Testing measurement invariance over countries and
students–employees revealed configural but not strong or strict invariance, indicating
that both instruments are somewhat sensitive to cultural differences. We conclude that
the PPS and IPS are valid measures of procrastination, and that the PPS may be
particularly useful in assessing cultural differences in unnecessary delay.