Time of Semester

Researchers who use undergraduate participants may be concerned about variation in data quality at different times of the semester. For instance, students who are more self-controlled may get their course credit earlier in the semester while those who procrastinate may wait until the end. Therefore, a potential time-of-semester effect may influence research data. This study sought to examine the relation between time of semester and delay discounting (DD) -- a process that refers to an individual’s sensitivity to delayed rewards. Undergraduate participants completed money (n = 149) and food (n = 150) DD measures. DD was compared across the semester. The number of systematic responders (i.e., those that follow a hyperbolic discounting curve) was also examined to determine the extent to which inattentive or random responding was evident. Regression analyses showed money and food DD was consistent and stable across the semester for all participants. Results for both money and food discounting remained insignificant when only systematic responders were used. Therefore, for college students, monetary and food DD is unrelated to time of semester.