Procrastination and grades: Can students be nudged towards better outcomes?

Nicky Nicholls

International Review of Economics Education, 2023, vol. 42, issue C

Abstract: This study starts by examining the relationship between procrastination and grades. I use a large sample (n = 17,241) of timed submissions of online assessments, where having multiple observations for each individual makes it possible to control for individual fixed effects. The data confirm a significant negative relationship between procrastination and grades. To address procrastination, two “nudges” encouraging earlier submission were tested with a smaller class group. The first was a communication about social norms relating to submission times; and the second was an information nudge highlighting grade disadvantages of late submission. Disappointingly, neither nudge led to earlier average submission times. This finding adds to a small body of work suggesting that nudges might be less effective when trying to change habitual behaviours.

Keywords: Procrastination; Higher education; Nudges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A20 C90 D91 I23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ireced:v:42:y:2023:i:c:s1477388022000238

DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2022.100256

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