A ZIMBARDO TIME PERSPECTIVE INVENTORY ZTPI SURVEY OF JAPANESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Time perspectives are dimensions of psychological time which partition experience into past, present, and future frames. This paper introduces the results from a survey of 504 Japanese university students using the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory ZTPI Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999 . Exploratory factor analysis was employed to explore the structural validity of the inventory. In addition, the relationship between time perspectives and self-reported, educationally relevant behavior/achievement criteria were investigated. The ZTPI scales were found to be of adequate reliability. Exploratory factor analysis offered mild support for the original ZTPI scale, and stronger support for a shortened version of the scale developed by Shimojima, Sato and Ochi 2012 . Positive correlations of medium strength were discovered between a positive future orientation and academic performance/love of studying, while a negative medium strength correlation connects a fatalistic attitude with academic performance. The research findings add to the sizable existing body of research on broad cultural differences in time perception. A comparison of mean scores suggested that Japanese university students tend to hold more negative views toward the past and be less future-oriented than their American counterparts