In search of a Transtheoretical Model and directed thinking interaction to reduce procrastination

High levels of procrastination often negatively impact the success of university students at school. How can students change and reduce their procrastination levels? The Transtheoretical Model (an evidenced-based Stage-of-Change model primarily used to improve addictive behavior, Prochaska & DiClemente, 1985, 1986), suggested that change is a process, and not a one-time event. According to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), people move through a progression of stages, using stage-appropriate interventions (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1985, 1986), to ultimately make a change. Recent research (Labansat et al., 2007) investigated the effect of the Transtheoretical Model and directed thinking tasks (communications that direct a person's behavior) to enhance self-beneficial behaviors (behaviors that are "good" for a person). The Labansat et al. (2007) study investigated whether the effectiveness of directed thinking tasks might be a function of an individuals' "readiness to change" relative to "studying" (a self-beneficial activity). Based on their research, these investigators suggested that the positives of emphasizing Antecedent Actions were more evident for participants who were in a Late Stage-of-Change level, rather than for participants who were in an Early Stage-of-Change level.;The current study examined the impact of directed thinking tasks and stage-of-change on procrastination, another key self-beneficial behavior. Phase 1 of the study replicated key aspects of the Labansat et al., (2007) research process, and investigated the effect of stage-of-change ( early vs. later stage-of-change) by directed thinking (antecedent action vs. desirable consequences) in relation to a person's readiness to change his/her procrastination. Phase II of this study applied some of these same concepts to behavioral activities where procrastination could occur.;Study findings were inconsistent with prior research on the interaction of the Transtheoretical Model and directed thinking tasks to improve self--beneficial behaviors (Labansat et al., 2007). Recommendations were made to improve future research on this topic.