Investigating the role of procrastination in the discrepancy between organ donor attitude and behaviour

Fines, Keira (2011) Investigating the role of procrastination in the discrepancy between organ donor attitude and behaviour. Oxford Brookes University.

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Abstract

An overwhelming majority of the UK population are in support of organ donation (90 per cent) but just under one-third of this majority are signed up to be donors (NHSBT, 2010). This study aimed to explore this discrepancy between attitude and behaviour by considering the role of procrastination, a factor not appearing to have been previously looked at in this context. 198 participants completed questionnaires which included measures of procrastination and intention time. It was hypothesised that individuals who say they intend but are yet to sign the register will show higher trait procrastination, with longer intention times relating to higher levels of procrastination. The results did not support this, showing no relationship between intention time and trait procrastination, as measured by the General Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986) or by a specially constructed measure of state procrastination. Claiming to need more information on knowing how to sign the register was predictive of intention time. The data are interpreted as suggesting that delays in intention time relate not to behavioural procrastination but to decisional procrastination.