Evaluation of academic procrastination in connection with the five personality factors and goal orientation

Academic procrastination is a common phenomenon among college students, and its prevention is the main concern for educational authorities. This study carried out to investigate the role of personality traits and goal orientations in explaining procrastination. The research method was descriptive - correlational and its population was all students at PNU Birjand, 330 of whom were selected by convenience sampling method. The Lee academic Procrastination Scale, the Five Personality Factor Inventory (BFI) and the Elliott and McGregor Achievement questionnaire were used for data gathering. Descriptive statistics including mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics comprising Pearson correlation, simultaneous regression and stepwide multiple regression were used for data analysis. Results showed that there is a significant relationship between the five personality factor and goal orientation with procrastination. Multiple regression analysis showed that task orientation, openness to experience, neuroticism and mastery approach, and mastery-avoidance orientation significantly predict to procrastination. In addition, the results showed that 96 percent of the procrastination variation is explained by personality traits and goal orientation. In general, it can be concluded that there is a relationship between the five factors of personality and goal orientation with academic procrastination, and personality and goal orientation are significant predictors of academic procrastination.