Students delay their duties, but also personal projects: Types of students' delayed and completed everyday actions

in Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie (2012), 44(4), 192-208

Research on procrastination focuses nearly exclusively on the delay of actions that are perceived as externally imposed obligations, which are postponed in favor of more attractive actions. Using the ... [more ▼]

Research on procrastination focuses nearly exclusively on the delay of actions that are perceived as externally imposed obligations, which are postponed in favor of more attractive actions. Using the example of students' everyday actions we investigated whether this conceptualization neglects certain phenomenological facets. 398 college students were asked to describe delayed and instead completed everyday actions of a specific dilatory episode with respect to 35 characteristics. Subsequently, latent-profile analysis was used to explore whether typical action profiles could be differentiated. Three types of both delayed and completed actions were identified. The former could be characterized as duties, personal projects, and physical activities; the latter as recreation, socializing, and duties, in turn. The profiles of personal projects and physical activities thereby indicate that the scope of delayed actions is broader than usually presumed. It is argued that the conceptualization and assessment of procrastination should be extended with respect to these types of action. [less ▲]

Der Einfluss von Expertise auf den Prozess der schulischen Leistungsbeurteilung

in Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie (2005), 37

Two experiments investigated the effects of information processing goals on the recall of information about pupils and on achievement judgments. In Experiment 1 teachers (experts) were presented with case ... [more ▼]

Two experiments investigated the effects of information processing goals on the recall of information about pupils and on achievement judgments. In Experiment 1 teachers (experts) were presented with case reports about pupils. The reports were either read under the instruction (a) to form an impression of the personality of the described pupils or (b) to predict their future development. Afterwards subjects had to recall the case reports and to rate the academic achievement of the described pupils. Experiment 2 was a replication with university freshmen (laymen) as subjects. Depending on their processing goal, experts switched their processing of pupil information from top-down strategies involving the activation of prototypical categories about pupil personalities to bottom-up processing which consists of integrating the features of the individual case. Thus, processing goals appear as moderators in teachers’ judgments. [less ▲]

Soziale Vergleiche zwischen Geschwistern im frühen Erwachsenenalter: Eine explorative Studie

in Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie (2002), 34(3), 174-193

The present study focuses on social comparisons in sibling relations in early adulthood. Starting from theoretical and empirical evidence of social comparison theory as well as research and findings on ... [more ▼]

The present study focuses on social comparisons in sibling relations in early adulthood. Starting from theoretical and empirical evidence of social comparison theory as well as research and findings on sibling relations, the thesis of a self-serving use of social comparisons in sibling relations is elaborated. A sample of N = 100 subjects had to name up to ten positive and ten negative personal characteristics which were additionally rated with respect to their personal importance; resulting comparison judgments were analyzed with respect to inferred similarity and/or inferiority as well as superiority towards the sibling. Furthermore, relations between comparison judgments and structural variables of sibling relations (i.e., sex of siblings) as well as self-esteem were explored; the effects of social comparison on indicators of relationship quality were investigated in the final step of the analysis. Findings showed that subjects formulated more dissimilarity than similarity in their judgments. Personal characteristics from which subjects inferred inferiority towards the sibling were rated as significantly less important than characteristics from which superiority was inferred. Furthermore, social comparisons were weakly related to structural characteristics and self-esteem but showed a more substantial and differential association with indicators of relationship quality. [less ▲]

Struktur und Folgen elterlicher Ungleichbehandlung von Geschwistern: Forschungsstand und -desiderate

in Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie (2001), 33(4), 195-203

The present paper reviews the empirical literature on the structure and consequences of differential parental treatment of siblings. Starting from a conceptual clarification of differential parental ... [more ▼]

The present paper reviews the empirical literature on the structure and consequences of differential parental treatment of siblings. Starting from a conceptual clarification of differential parental treatment (DPT) and parental favoritism (PF) methods for assessing these constructs are described. Then, empirical findings concerning the consequences of DPT or PF for the individual siblings, the sibling relationship, and parent child relations are summarised. The following desiderata of research are outlined: (1) Analysis of structure and consequences of DPT in adulthood, (2) conceptualisation and measurement of DPT that differentiates between domains, actors and temporal reference as well as amount and direction, and (3) investigation of mediating processes between DPT and its various effects that is guided by theories of social comparison, justice, and emotion. [less ▲]

Retrospektive Bewertungen des eigenen Lebens: LZG – Lebenszufriedenheits-Graph.

in Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie (1997), 29(1)