Verified by What Homework?
How do students cope with procrastination? They lie and
hoodwink instructors.
By Kaja Perina published November 1, 2002 - last reviewed on June 9, 2016
College students admit that at least 70 percent of their excuses
for missed assignments are lies. A survey by Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., a
professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago also found that
instructors almost always accept students' excuses at face value, thus
enabling chronic procrastinators.
Students' explanations tend toward health or computer problems,
though the death of grandparents is a perennial fallback, according to
Ferrari. Some studies indicated that they enjoy
hoodwinking instructors, but most of the 224 students surveyed by Ferrari
reported feeling guilty about lying. None, however, said the guilt would
prevent them from fibbing in the future.
