Table 3 Factor composition and items loading after varimax orthogonal rotation

Factor 1

0.7431

20-Some students postpone some important tasks until the deadline set by the professor. If they get a bad grade, they say the assignment was done in the last minute.

0.6874

21-Some students do not organize their time very well, so they need to stay awake for several nights in a row to do an important assignment. If they get a bad grade, they say they were too sleepy.

0.6527

23-Some students do not dedicate enough time to an important assignment. If the result is not good, they say they were not engaged.

0.5706

14-Some students do other things (watch television, listen to music or use the internet) knowing they have little time to do an assignment. If they do not get a good grade, they say the assignment was too long.

0.5662

1-Some students study only the day before the test. If they do not get a good grade, they say they did not have enough time to study the whole material.

0.5631

17-Some students do not prepare for a test and then feel very anxious. If they get a bad grade, they blame anxiety.

0.5460

13-Some students do not read the texts recommended by the professors before the class. If they get a bad grade, they say it was because the texts were too boring.

0.4662

12-Some students postpone studying and doing academic assignments, and often fail to do them. If they do not do well in the course, they say it was due to lack of time.

0.4647

22-Some students are focused on non-essential details of an important activity and do not dedicate to its content. If the grade is not what they expected, they say they had no time to do a good assignment.

0.4535

18-Some students do not pay attention in class, so that if they do not do well in the course, they say that the classes are very boring.

Factor 2

0.7391

4-Some students use their cell phones during the class. If they do not get a good grade, they say it was because they did not understand the teacher’s explanation.

0.6592

24-Some students read entertainment magazines during classes. If they get a bad grade, they say it was because they did not understand the subject.

0.657

10–Some students go to parties even when they have an important assignment. If they get a bad grade, they say the proposed assignment was too complex.

0.5852

5-Some students leave the classroom frequently. If they get a bad grade on the test, they say it was because they missed important content.

0.5314

11-Some students talk to classmates during the class. If they do not do well in the course, they say that their friends distracted them.

0.4199

9-Some students always find an excuse, apparently acceptable, to use as an explanation in situations that do poorly in college.

0.4131

16-Some students miss many classes. If they do poorly in the discipline, they say they did not have access to the content

0.4130

7-Some students do not prepare well for an oral presentation and so are very nervous at the time of exposure. If they do not perform well, they say nervousness got in the way.

0.3998

6-Some students go out even when they have an important assignment. If they get a bad grade, they say they had little time to do it.

0.39811

15- Some students report they have to stay with friends and/or boyfriend/girlfriend. If their assignment is not good, they say they had no time to dedicate to studying.

0.34124

19- Some students report they have to stay with friends and/or boyfriend/girlfriend. If their assignment is not good, they say they had no time to dedicate to studying.

Factor 3

0.6096

8-Some students intentionally engage in too many activities. If they do not do well in the course, they say they were too busy with other things.

0.6059

3-Some students do not seriously dedicate themselves to academic activities. If they do not do well in the course, they say they need to help a family member

0.5442

2-Some students do not study hard and when they do not get a good grade, they say it is not possible because the course has a heavy load.