The Time Perceptions of University Teachers: a comparative study

This study employs a multiple research methodology to investigate and compare the time perceptions of university teachers from two countries. In one sample, the university teachers were inaccurate in about 70% of their time estimates as compared with recorded data on how they actually spent their time. In the other sample, they were inaccurate in only about 40% of their estimates when compared with the actual figures. The nature of the errors committed by the two groups of university teachers were, however, very similar: 69% and 71% of the incorrect estimates were errors of overestimation. In addition, there were remarkable similarities in the activities on which they underestimated or overestimated spending their time. The findings of these similarities and differences in the time perceptions of university teachers from two different cultures are discussed and their implications for managerial practice and research explored.