A mathematical formula for procrastination

[Josh]

I am a moderate procrastinator. Even when I believe that I would be best served by finishing a task (say, filing this story), I will occasionally put it off in favor of some short-term reward (like a much needed caffeine fix). This tendency on my part to delay what is in my long-term interest can now be explained by a simple mathematical equation, according to industrial psychologist Piers Steel of the University of Calgary.

http://sciam.com/article.cfm?articleid=18C98D80-E7F2-99DF-3BC33A063794BB37

[Deozaan]

Nor does it explain why procrastination seems to be on the rise--afflicting as many as 95 percent of students and at least 15 percent of adults, according to two recent surveys.

Only 15% of adults? I must only know people in that 15% category.

[MerleOne]

Thanks, I'll read that tomorrow ...

[app103]

There is a link at the bottom of the article that leads to here: http://www.procrastinus.com/

There is a procrastination study from the University of Calgary that you can participate in. It will give you some feedback at the end of it.

According to my results, I am in the top 10% in terms of procrastination. 

The results also come with suggestions on how to procrastinate less, which I did not publish in my blog post with my results.

If you want to see their tips, you'll have to take the test. 

And if you had fun taking that test, there are plenty more studies here: http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html

[wuwei23]

For another take on the use of mathematical formulas to discuss human behaviour, check out the always entertaining & informative site Bad Science, where they address this kind of nonsense regularly:

It’s not surprising that these equations are so stupid, because they come from the PR companies almost fully-formed and ready to have your name attached to them. I know that because I have received an avalanche of insider stories - Watergate it isn’t - including one from an academic in psychology who was offered money by Porter Novelli PR agency to put his name to the very same Sky Travel equation story that Arnall sold his to. In amongst their aggressive pitch they described how the story would go.

(MediaSlut - Ideas) + Money = CorporateWhore