Validity and reliability of an academic procrastination scale in Cuban dental students

Abstract

Introduction: Academic procrastination can have a negative impact on student education and professional performance, hence the need for valid and reliable instruments for its study.

Objective: To analyze the evidence of validity and reliability of an academic procrastination scale in Cuban dental students.

Methods: Instrumental, cross-sectional and multicenter study, which included students from seven Cuban universities. Using an instrument in Spanish validated in Peruvian students, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed, structural equation modeling was used, and internal consistency was calculated with Cronbach's α coefficient.

Results: 684 participants were included, of which 63,45 % were women and the mean age was 22,0 ± 1,71 years. From the initial scale of 12 items distributed in 2 factors, the factor analysis suggested eliminating item 5. The final model was made up of 11 items, 8 for factor 1 (Academic self-regulation) and 3 for factor 2 (Postponement of activities). A Cronbach's α coefficient of 0,786 (95 % CI = 0,75 – 0,81) was obtained, which indicates that the internal consistency of the instrument is good.

Conclusions: An 11-item academic procrastination scale was validated (EPA-11-Odonto), which has evidence of validity and adequate reliability to evaluate the construct in Cuban dental students.