Abstract
After completing the Multidimensional Work-Ethic Profile (MWEP), 98 college students were given a 20-problem math computation assignment and instructed to stop working on the assignment after completing 10 problems. Next, they were allowed to choose to finish either the partially completed assignment that had 10 problems remaining or a new assignment that contained 9 matched problems and therefore required 10% less effort to complete. Significantly more students chose the new, lower-effort assignment. Logistic regression showed that MWEP scores were significantly related to choice, with Leisure being the most significant factor. These results supported earlier research on the partial-assignment completion effect, effort, and choice and extended this research by showing that the MWEP could account for a significant amount of assignment choice variance. The discussion focuses on the validity of the MWEP, theoretical implications related to work ethic, assignment completion, and future educational research.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 575-579 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Learning and Individual Differences |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2011 |
Funding
This study was completed with the support of the Korn Learning Assessment and Social Skills (KLASS) Center at The University of Tennessee.
Keywords
- Assignment choice
- Effort
- Leisure
- Partial-assignment completion effect
- Work ethic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Education
- Developmental and Educational Psychology