ÜBERMAD

Action

Split a big task into pieces

Break a task or project into smaller sub-tasks or steps.

A woman sitting on a bench breaks a small chunk off a big round loaf on her lap and puts it on a plate beside her.

Studies (7)

  1. Paper

    Students who happened to get the method picked for them put things off less
    UsedHelped

    Students who happened to get the method a model picked tended to put things off less than the others.

    Randomised trial of 256 Polish-speaking university students who put things off · vs students who got the method not picked for them · they rated themselves · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; only counted people who finished; matched-vs-mismatched comparison observational; summary claims more than the results show

  2. Paper

    New therapy for ADHD cut putting things off no more than the usual one
    TestedNo difference

    Group therapy with tools to get organised and start tasks cut putting things off no more than standard group therapy.

    Randomised trial of 108 adults with the inattentive type of ADHD · vs a standard group therapy for ADHD · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show; numbers unreliable

    TestedHelped

    Tools to get organised and skills to start and stop tasks got people more active than standard therapy.

    Randomised trial of 108 adults with the inattentive type of ADHD · vs a standard group therapy for ADHD · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show; numbers unreliable

  3. Paper

    A school group course on planning and memory didn't clearly beat no course
    TestedNo difference

    A group course on small steps, deadlines, daily plans and memory worked no better than normal school.

    Small randomised trial of 30 secondary school students in Tehran · vs students who carried on with normal school · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show; numbers unreliable

  4. Paper

    Resilience lessons for young pupils: results on putting things off conflict
    TestedMixed

    Pupils in group lessons on breaking work into steps and goal promises put things off less, but the numbers conflict.

    Randomised trial of 100 fourth-grade pupils in Egypt · vs pupils who got no lessons · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  5. Paper

    Seven group therapy sessions helped midwives put off work and decisions less
    TestedHelped

    After seven group sessions on unhelpful thoughts and splitting tasks, midwives put off work less than others for two months.

    Small randomised trial of 47 midwives in Iran who put things off · vs midwives who got nothing · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  6. Paper

    Mini-deadlines, a list of benefits and early marks got work in sooner
    TestedHelped

    Students who split work into dated parts, listed benefits and earned early marks handed in three days ahead of others.

    Randomised trial of 308 secondary school students in Hong Kong · vs the same assignment and a video on relaxing · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ student thesis, not checked by other scientists; whole groups were assigned, not people

    TestedNo difference

    The same package, with a checklist for removing distractions, didn't change how much students said they put things off.

    Randomised trial of 308 secondary school students in Hong Kong · vs the same assignment and a video on relaxing · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ student thesis, not checked by other scientists; whole groups were assigned, not people

  7. Paper

    A bonus for early work and a late penalty got coursework in sooner
    UsedHelped

    A bonus for early work and a late penalty got work in 4 days sooner than plain due dates.

    Randomised trial of 189 student teachers in an online course · vs the same due dates as guidance only · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ student thesis, not checked by other scientists

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