WHAT GOALS DO

Locke, E. A., Shaw, K. N., Saari, L. M., & Latham, G. P. (1981). Goal setting and task performance: 1969-1980. Psychological Bulletin, 90, 125-152.

  1. Goal setting directs attention. The more specific and behavioral a goal, the greater the control an athlete has over it. This is evidenced when one contrasts winning as a goal with shooting a rifle exactly the same on each successive shot.
  2. Goals must be coupled with feedback (KR). Knowledge of results or goals alone are not as effective as both together. Once again, the role of feedback as the primary medium for behavior change is substantiated.

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