Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986)

Abstract

The Procrastination Scale, developed by C. Lay in 1986, is a seminal self-report instrument designed to measure procrastination as a stable personality trait rather than a temporary behavioral state. This 20-item scale assesses the generalized tendency of an individual to delay important tasks, miss deadlines, and chronically put off necessary actions across various life domains, including academic, professional, and personal responsibilities. Responses are captured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Extremely Uncharacteristic) to 5 (Extremely Characteristic).

Keywords

Procrastination, Trait Procrastination, Psychological Assessment, Self-Regulation, Lay Scale, Behavioral Delay, Psychometrics

Authors

Clarry Lay

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986) is to provide a reliable and psychometrically sound measure for researchers studying the dispositional tendency toward delay. Prior to this instrument, many measures focused on specific situational delays (e.g., academic study). Lay aimed to establish a measure of trait procrastination—the chronic and pervasive tendency to postpone tasks—which could be applied across different contexts to understand its relationship with other personality variables.

The scale serves as a foundational tool in the study of motivation, self-control, and time management behaviors. It is used in clinical and academic settings to quantify individual differences in the tendency to voluntarily delay the initiation or completion of intended actions despite expecting potential negative consequences.

Construct

The scale measures Trait Procrastination, defined as a stable, dispositional characteristic reflecting a generalized habit of delaying or putting off tasks. This construct is distinct from situational procrastination, which occurs in response to specific environmental pressures or task characteristics.

Lay’s conceptualization frames procrastination as a personality variable that influences behavior across different areas of life. High scores indicate a persistent tendency toward behavioral delay, often linked to poor planning, impulsivity, and difficulties in self-regulation and goal pursuit. The items reflect common, everyday occurrences of delay, making the scale highly face-valid.

Validity

The original research demonstrated robust construct validity for the Procrastination Scale. This was achieved by correlating scores on the scale with measures of related constructs, such as impulsivity, conscientiousness (showing a negative correlation), and self-esteem. The scale consistently showed that higher procrastination scores were associated with lower levels of diligence and poorer organizational habits.

Furthermore, the scale has shown good predictive validity, particularly in academic settings, where higher scores are reliably associated with lower academic performance and greater self-reported stress related to deadlines. The distinction between trait and situational delay helps confirm that the scale is measuring a fundamental tendency rather than transient behavior.

Reliability

The Procrastination Scale exhibits acceptable to strong internal consistency (reliability) across numerous studies, typically reporting Cronbach’s alpha coefficients in the range of .80 to .90. This indicates that the 20 items consistently measure the same underlying construct of trait procrastination.

Test-retest reliability, though not detailed in the original source snippet, has generally been established in subsequent research, confirming the stability of the trait measurement over time. This stability is crucial for an instrument designed to capture a dispositional characteristic.

Factor Analysis

Factor analytical studies of the Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986) typically support a unidimensional structure. This means that all 20 items load onto a single factor, confirming that the scale primarily measures one overarching construct: the generalized tendency toward behavioral delay, or trait procrastination. While some later scales have attempted to delineate sub-factors (e.g., avoidance, arousal), the Lay scale remains a strong measure of the general, global trait.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 20 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale

Language Available: Originally English; widely translated and adapted into numerous languages (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, German).

Population Group: General population (Adults and Students)

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 16+)

Population Details: The scale was originally validated using university students, but has since been shown to be effective across diverse non-student adult samples. Note that specific items (marked with *) differ slightly between student and non-student forms, reflecting differences in relevant daily tasks.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate the degree to which each statement is characteristic or uncharacteristic of them, using the scale: 1 (Extremely Uncharacteristic) to 5 (Extremely Characteristic). Items 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 20 are reverse-keyed, meaning higher scores on these items indicate lower levels of procrastination, and must be reversed during scoring (e.g., 1=5, 2=4, 4=2, 5=1).

Keywords

Personality Measure, Behavioral Tendency, Time Management, Assessment Tool, Academic Performance, Self-Control

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: The associated academic contact is Ronald Okada: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Ronald Okada, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1986

Permissions & Fee: The scale is widely used in academic research and is generally considered to be in the public domain for non-commercial research purposes, provided appropriate citation of the original article is given. Specific commercial uses may require contacting the author or publisher of the original journal article.

Reference’s

• Lay‚ C. (1986). At last‚ my research article on procrastination. Journal of Research in Personality‚ 20‚ 474-495.

Items of the Procrastination Scale (Lay‚ 1986)

Instructions: People may use the following statements to describe themselves. For each statement‚ decide whether the statement is uncharacteristic or characteristic of you using the following 5 point scale. Note that the 3 on the scale is Neutral – the statement is neither characteristic nor uncharacteristic of you. In the box to the right of each statement‚ fill in the number on the 5 point scale that best describes you.

Scale: 1 (Extremely Uncharacteristic) to 5 (Extremely Characteristic)

1. I often find myself performing tasks that I had intended to do days before.
2. I often miss concerts‚ sporting events‚ or the like because I don’t around to buying tickets on time. (*)
3. When planning a party‚ I make the necessary arrangements well in advance. (Reversed Keyed, *)
4. When it is time to get up in the morning‚ I most often get right out of bed. (Reversed Keyed)
5. A letter may sit for days after I write it before mailing it.
6. I generally return phone calls promptly. (Reversed Keyed)
7. Even with jobs that require little else except sitting down and doing them‚ I find they seldom get done for days.
8. I usually make decisions as soon as possible. (Reversed Keyed)
9. I generally delay before starting on work I have to do.
10. When travelling‚ I usually have to rush in preparing to arrive at the airport or station at the appropriate time. (*)
11. When preparing to go out‚ I am seldom caught ha‎ving to do something at the last minute. (Reversed Keyed)
12. In preparing for some deadline‚ I often waste time by doing other things.
13. If a bill for a small amount comes‚ I pay it right away. (Reversed Keyed, *)
14. I usually return an RVSP request very shortly after receiving the invitation. (Reversed Keyed, *)
15. I often have a task finished sooner than necessary. (Reversed Keyed)
16. I always seem to end up shopping for birthday or Christmas gifts at the last minute.
17. I usually buy even an essential item at the last minute.
18. I usually accomplish all the things I plan to do in a day. (Reversed Keyed)
19. I am continually saying “I’ll do it tomorrow”.
20. I usually take care of all the tasks I have to do before I settle down and relax for the evening. (Reversed Keyed)

Note on Scoring: Reversed-keyed items (indicating non-procrastination) are: 3‚ 4‚ 6‚ 8‚ 11‚ 13‚ 14‚ 15‚ 18‚ and 20. Items marked with an asterisk (*) indicate slight variation between student and non-student forms.