Competing demands and complimentary motives: Procrastination on intrinsically and extrinsically motivated summer projects

The present study examined differences in the amount of procrastination exp erienced on primarily intrinsically motivated and primarily extrinsically m otivated summer projects. One hundred and ten adults were recruited to part icipate at a shopping mail. These participants identified 2 summer projects , one which they most "wanted to do" (primarily intrinsically motivated) an d one which they "had to get done" (primarily extrinsically motivated). An initial questionnaire elicited ratings of motivation toward these projects and requested specific project plans. Two telephone interviews followed-up on project progress. Results showed that projects that participants "had to do," as compared with those that they "wanted to do," were started and fin ished more often and had more time devoted to them each week. Continuous me asures of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation predicted the amount of t ime that was invested in projects each week.