ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVES, GOALS, AND THE ROLE OF SELF-EFFICACY: EXAMINING THE MOTIVATIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF PROCRASTINATION AND ACTIVE DELAY

Abstract

With the proposal of an adaptive form of procrastination (active delay), several studies have sought to distinguish between traditional procrastination and active delay by comparing their relations with the motivational variables of self-efficacy and achievement goals. However, the null and mixed findings observed have made it difficult to do so, likely due to the lack of consideration of achievement motives as a predictor. Thus, this present study seeks to explore the motive to goal to behaviour pathways involved in procrastination and active delay, with self-efficacy as a mediator or moderator, to paint a more complete picture of their underlying motivational processes. Among 129 undergraduates from the National University of Singapore, achievement goals (mastery-avoidance and performance-approach) and self-efficacy were found to be serial mediators in the relationship between the motive of fear of failure and delayed behaviour, with self-efficacy being the principal factor in differentiating between procrastination and active delay. The moderating role of self-efficacy was not supported. This study extends previous findings by painting a more complete picture of the motivational processes underlying both active delay and procrastination, and opens up opportunities for future studies to subject these motivational pathways to further testing to better capture their temporal trajectories.