An Introductory Study of the Impact of Implementation Intentions on Assignment Completion Rates with an Emphasis on Engineering Technology Students

摘要

Faculty at our university have grown frustrated with low completion rates on homework assignments. While often a low percentage of the students' grade, such practice is especially important for the quantitative courses that make up much of the engineering technology curriculum. What if there was a simple way to significantly increase the percentage of students completing their homework assignments, with little effort on the part of the instructor? An implementation intention is a clear strategy for achieving a goal, in the form of an "if-then" plan, that specifies the when, where and how a goal is to be reached. For example, "If I have just finished my 10AM circuits class, then I will go to the library and work on my calculus homework until my next class." There is a rich body of literature in the field of psychology showing the success of implementation intentions, applied to things as diverse as exercise, impulse control, and overcoming addiction. However, prior to this study, very little work has been done applying this practice to academics.