以時間決策模型探討拖延行為的心理機制

Abstract

本研究旨在以Zhang與Feng（2020）提出的時間決策模型（temporal decision model）解釋個體發生拖延行為的心理機制；以及任務特性與時間決策模型之間的相關性。時間決策模型假設個體在拖延與否的決策歷程中，受到過程效用和結果效用的影響。過程效用指的是個體在執行任務時產生的感受，結果效用則是個體對任務結果的感知，兩者皆為個體的主觀感受。本研究聚焦於時限對於兩種效用的影響、這兩種效用對個體執行任務決策的預測以及透過兩者之間的競爭來解釋拖延行為。同時，本研究透過任務困難度，討論任務特性對效用產生的影響，進一步將任務特性納入時間決策模型的考量。本研究採用實驗研究法對99名大學生及研究生進行實驗調查，測量了受測者對四項任務的主觀感受，包含任務困難度、過程效用、結果效用和執行決策。本研究以效用種類（過程效用和結果效用）、時限，以及任務困難度作為自變項，效用值為依變項，進行三因子變異數分析，並檢驗任務困難度對過程效用的影響。此外，透過多元迴歸分析進一步檢定過程效用和結果效用對執行決策的預測效果。最後，本研究根據時間決策模型的公式，將個體的執行決策分為「執行組」與「不執行、不一定執行組」，並以結果效用與過程效用的差值作為依變項，進行獨立樣本t檢定，檢驗兩效用差值的平均數是否有顯著差異。研究結果顯示，時限與效用種類存在交互作用，時限對過程效用有顯著影響，對結果效用的影響則不顯著。同時，任務困難度對過程效用具有顯著影響。研究結果也顯示過程效用和結果效用皆能夠有效預測個體的拖延行為，而過程效用在這兩者中扮演著更為重要的角色。總體而言，本研究的結果支持了時間決策模型的假設，也證實任務特性與時間決策模型的相關性。本研究探索了拖延行為的心理機制，並針對個人以及教育上對學生提供減少拖延行為的建議。This study aims to utilize Zhang and Feng's (2020) temporal decision model to explain the psychological mechanisms underlying individual procrastination behavior and the correlation between task characteristics and the temporal decision model. The temporal decision model posits that individuals, in the decision-making process of procrastination, are influenced by both engagement utility and outcome utility. Engagement utility refers to the feelings generated by individuals while performing a task, while outcome utility is the individual's perception of the task's results, both being components of subjective experiences. This research focuses on the impact of time on both types of utilities, the predictive effects of these utilities on individual task decision-making, and the explanation of procrastination behavior through the competition between the two. Additionally, the study discusses the influence of task difficulty on the generation of utilities, further incorporating task characteristics into the consideration of the temporal decision model.Using an experimental research method, this study surveyed 99 university students and graduate students, measuring their subjective experiences regarding four tasks, including task difficulty, engagement utility, outcome utility, and execution decision. The study employed a three-way analysis of variance with utility types (engagement utility and outcome utility), deadlines, and task difficulty as independent variables, and utility values as the dependent variable. It also examined the impact of task difficulty on engagement utility through multiple regression analysis. Furthermore, the study used independent samples t-tests, dividing individual decision-making into"execution group" and "non-execution, uncertain execution group" based on the formula of the temporal decision model, with the difference between outcome utility and engagement utility as the dependent variable. The results revealed an interaction between time and utility types, with time significantly affecting engagement utility but not outcome utility. Additionally, task difficulty had a significant impact on engagement utility. The study also demonstrated that both engagement utility andoutcome utility effectively predicted individual procrastination behavior, with engagement utility playing a more crucial role. Overall, the results of this study support the assumptions of the temporal decision model and confirm the correlation between task characteristics and the temporal decision model. This research explores the psychological mechanisms of procrastination behavior and provides suggestions for individuals and educational interventions aimed at reducing procrastination behavior.