Satisfaction and Commitment to a Decisional Choice in Relation to Decisional Procrastination

Author

Nicole Burris

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Barton, Michelle

Keywords

Decisional Procrastination, College Choice, Satisfaction

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Researchers have often viewed decisional procrastination as a negative characteristic that should be addressed by career counselors. Recent research has revealed that decisional procrastinators use systematic and strategic searches in their decision-making processes. This study investigates the role that decisional procrastination plays in the satisfaction with and commitment to the real-life decision of which undergraduate institution to attend and the hypothetical decision of which graduate school to attend. A sample of 27 college freshmen were administered the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire, the Job in General Scale, and the Occupational Commitment Questionnaire in relation to the real-life decision of which college to attend. It was found that there were no significant differences in satisfaction and commitment in low and high decisional procrastinators. A sample of 39 college seniors were administered the same three measures in relation to hypothetical scenarios in which decision-making time was manipulated to assess the effect of decisional procrastination and time on satisfaction and commitment. It was found that low decisional procrastinators had significantly higher satisfaction and commitment scores than high decisional procrastinators. It was also found that there were no significant differences across decisionmaking time for satisfaction and commitment. These results are discussed in terms of the positive and negative interpretations of decisional procrastination. Directions for future research are also offered in light of these results.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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