Saturday, January 13, 2007
Tomorrow and Tomorrow
A Canadian researcher has published what he claims to be the mathematical equation that predicts how much a person will procrastinate a given task, the Temporal Motivation Theory: Utility = E x V / ΓD. Aside from the blanket futility of trying to come up with real numbers for "a person's sensitivity to delay" (D), "the value of completing the task" (V), or any of the other variables, this is a really interesting idea.
Procrastination can be a dangerous thing, leading to lost productivity and sloppy work products, as well as real losses such as from putting off getting medical treatment, etc. (since I'm fairly confident that 'productivity' is a real thing like, say, health it), and knowing more about it could inform on all sorts of aspects of behavior.
Needless to say, I saw and bookmarked this press release a few days ago.
Procrastination can be a dangerous thing, leading to lost productivity and sloppy work products, as well as real losses such as from putting off getting medical treatment, etc. (since I'm fairly confident that 'productivity' is a real thing like, say, health it), and knowing more about it could inform on all sorts of aspects of behavior.
Needless to say, I saw and bookmarked this press release a few days ago.
Labels: Canada, equation, math, procrastination, science, Tmporal Motivation Theory
