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IMPACT OF DECISIONS ON MEMORY AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN COUNSELING FOR PROCRASTINATION
Abstract
Using levels of processing research as a foundation, this study assessed the impact of decisions on the memorability of information presented in a counseling-analogue setting. Also of interest was the effect that decisions have on behavioral change. The independent variables in this 2 x 2 factorial design were (a) number of decisions, operationalized as passive versus active involvement with packet materials, and (b) difficulty of decisions, where low difficulty reflected factual knowledge and high difficulty represented integrative knowledge. The interaction of these two variables was hypothesized to lead to better memory and greater behavior change. Ninety-three student volunteers who identified themselves as procrastinators participated in all steps of the study. Subjects with less serious problems with procrastination as measured by the Procrastination Inventory were screened out and data on the remaining 60 volunteers were used in the analysis. Pre- and post-test measures of behavior were taken using a time log and a behavior log form. Treatment consisted of randomly distributed packets representing four different formats of the same information about procrastination and techniques for change. One week after the treatment session subjects completed memory measures and handed in behavior logs. Analysis of memory measurements using MANOVA did not support the hypothesized interaction effect. The element of active involvement did produce significantly greater memory scores on recognition and application tasks. On behavior measures there was a significant decrease in procrastination behaviors but a differential group effect was not found. There was no significant relationship found between memory and behavior scores. The results suggest the importance of client involvement in sessions in order to facilitate learning. Further research over a longer period of time is recommended to assess the relationship between memory and behavior.
Subject Area
Educational psychology
Recommended Citation
LAMBERT, DORINDA JOSEPHINE, "IMPACT OF DECISIONS ON MEMORY AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN COUNSELING FOR PROCRASTINATION" (1984). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8427908.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8427908