A Comparative Study of Fear of Failure, Procrastination and Emotional Intelligence between Science and Commerce Students

Description

Page: 360-363

Kanishka Vaishnav and Alpana Vaidya (Department of Psychology, Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, Maharashtra)

This study aimed to compare fear of failure (FoF), procrastination, and emotional intelligence (EI) between Science and Commerce students to determine if academic discipline influences these psychological constructs. A sample of 55 school students (aged 16-18) was assessed using the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI), Procrastination Assessment Scale-Students (PASS), and Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). A comparative research design was employed, and data were analyzed using non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis & Chi-Square) due to non-normal distributions. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between Science and Commerce students, supporting all three null hypotheses. This suggests that these psychological tendencies may be more individual-specific rather than influenced by academic stream. The findings challenge prior assumptions that Science students experience higher pressure or that Commerce students possess greater EI due to interpersonal coursework. Instead, factors like personal temperament, digital distractions, and universal academic stressors may contribute equally across disciplines. Limitations include a small sample size and lack of qualitative insights. Future research should explore larger, more diverse samples and incorporate mixed-method designs to deepen understanding of these psychological dynamics in academic settings.