Validation of the Pure Procrastination Scale

Abstract

There has been some debate between researchers on how to measure the procrastination construct. Some researchers suggest that a scale should capture the negative aspects of procrastination in all of its items (Klingsieck, 2013). To address this need, Steel (2010) developed the 12-item Pure Procrastination Scale. He utilized three existing scales of procrastination. After conducting a factor analysis, he found three components. Steel elected to not interpret the last two components because he did not believe these components were necessarily measuring procrastination as an “irrational delay.” To investigate the Pure Procrastination Scale further, a factor analysis was conducted. Based on an ethnically diverse sample of N = 260, two components were found. This did not support Steel’s (2010) findings. However, both components were found to be reliable. The first component seems to be measuring Delay (α = .91) and the second component seems to be measuring Time Orientation (α = .71). Furthermore, both components were validated by using other measures of procrastination, satisfaction with life, perfectionism, and personality. Implications of the results and recommendation for future research provided.