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How Goal Specificity Shapes Motivation: A Reference Points Perspective?

Consumption (economics)

Set (psychology)

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Goal specificity influences motivation by altering reference points during goal pursuit. Specific goals emphasize the end state, while nonspecific goals highlight the initial state . In challenging tasks, specific goals may hinder learning and motivation, contrary to earlier claims . Personal bests serve as reference points, driving individuals to achieve new milestones and cease efforts once accomplished, aligning with loss aversion theory . Setting high-low range goals increases goal reengagement likelihood due to enhanced attainability and challenge, fostering a sense of accomplishment . Reference points can be leveraged to boost saving behavior, as seen in scenarios where subgoals increase the likelihood of saving money when aligned with weekly targets . Overall, understanding how goal specificity shapes motivation through reference points is crucial for optimizing goal-directed behavior.

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Journal Article•DOI The Effect of Goal Specificity on Consumer Goal Reengagement Maura L. Scott, Stephen M. Nowlis - Show less +1 more 01 Oct 2013-Journal of Consumer Research 30 Citations	Goal specificity shapes motivation by influencing goal reengagement. High-low range goals enhance attainability and challenge, leading to greater accomplishment and motivation compared to single number goals.
Open access•Posted Content Savings, subgoals, and reference points Helen A. Colby, Gretchen B. Chapman - Show less +1 more 01 Jan 2013-Judgment and Decision Making 8 Citations	Goal specificity, such as setting subgoals, enhances motivation by influencing reference points, increasing willingness to save money towards achieving specific goals, as shown in the research.
Journal Article•DOI How Goal Specificity Shapes Motivation: A Reference Points Perspective Scott Wallace, Jordan Etkin - Show less +1 more 01 Feb 2018-Journal of Consumer Research 45 Citations	Goal specificity influences motivation by altering the reference points consumers focus on during goal pursuit, impacting the relationship between goal progress and motivation.
Open access•Journal Article•DOI Personal bests as reference points. Ashton Anderson, Etan A. Green - Show less +1 more 06 Feb 2018-Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 21 Citations	Goal specificity influences motivation by serving as personal best reference points. Players strive to achieve new best ratings in chess, driven by loss aversion, quitting once they reach this goal.
Book Chapter•DOI Goals, Strategies, and Motivation 10 May 2022	Goal specificity impacts motivation by altering the interaction between strategies and motivation during learning. Specific goals may hinder learning in difficult tasks.

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Does cognitive behavioral therapy set specific goals?4 answersYes, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) does involve setting specific goals. Research indicates that in CBT, patients define 1-3 treatment goals at the beginning of therapy using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). These goals are aimed at addressing various aspects such as problems and symptoms, interpersonal issues, and personal growth. Additionally, a study focusing on patients undergoing cognitive-behavioral-based physical therapy after spine surgery found that participants set weekly goals and reported goal attainment using GAS, with those meeting their goals experiencing greater physical function improvement at 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Furthermore, CBT for children and adolescents is described as a goal-focused approach that helps them identify dysfunctional cognitions associated with psychological problems and develop more functional cognitive patterns. Therefore, CBT indeed emphasizes the establishment of specific treatment goals to guide therapy effectively.

How do goal intentions explain behaviour?5 answersGoal intentions explain behavior by influencing the formation of behavioral intentions and guiding individuals' actions towards desired outcomes. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) suggests that behavioral intentions, which precede behavior, are determined by attitude towards the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived control. Additionally, goal systems theory (GST) posits that behavior serves as a means to achieve individual goals, expanding the explanatory power of TPB. The ideomotor (IM) theory proposes that the mere ideation of an outcome can initiate the relevant action, linking action-outcome representations. Furthermore, implementation intentions (if-then plans) facilitate goal-directed behaviors by automatically triggering actions in goal-relevant situations. These intentions promote flexible tenacity, allowing individuals to persist in goal-directed behaviors with bearable costs and adaptively back off from excessively costly behaviors. Overall, goal intentions provide a framework for understanding how individuals form intentions, translate them into actions, and strive towards desired outcomes.

How does goal-setting theory influence employee motivation and productivity in the workplace?4 answersGoal-setting theory has a significant influence on employee motivation and productivity in the workplace. When tasks and task-interdependencies are well-understood, specific and ambitious goals can motivate individuals and improve organizational performance. However, in complex or changing business environments where tasks involve non-trivial interdependencies, assigning specific and ambitious goals may create conflict among organizational members. In such cases, it is important to set goals that balance the quality of the outcome and the effort spent obtaining it, considering the joint choice of goal distribution, goal priority, and goal structure. Additionally, good goal-setting leadership has been found to increase motivation and work productivity, and remote working can moderate the relationship between goal-setting leadership and work productivity, resulting in positive outcomes. Overall, goal setting is a practical strategy for enhancing employee motivation and performance, but it is important to consider the specific context and conditions in which goals are set.

What are the different motivation theories that exist?5 answersMotivation theories that exist include Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory, Herzberg's Motivation-Maintenance Theory, McClelland's Theory of Need Motivation, McGregor's Theory X/Theory Y, sociocognitive theories, sociocultural theories, the concept of perezhivanie, expectancy-value theory, social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, interest theory, achievement goal theory, attribution theory, Alderfer's ERG Theory, and regulatory focus theory. These theories provide different perspectives on understanding and explaining motivation in various contexts, such as military motivation, open and distance learning, and education. They highlight the importance of personal attributes, social processes, contextual influences, and subjective experiences in motivating individuals. Additionally, these theories have been empirically linked to outcomes such as task achievement, academic performance, and positive worker outcomes. Integrative frameworks and action models have also been proposed to better understand the similarities and differences among these theories and their impact on learning and behavior.

Goal clarity and motivation?3 answersGoal clarity has a positive relationship with motivation, specifically public service motivation (PSM). Perceiving clearer goals generally leads to higher PSM, especially among individuals with high value congruence between their personal values and organizational values. This relationship between goal clarity and PSM follows a U-shaped pattern, characterized by a decrease followed by an increase. Goal clarity is also positively associated with organizational commitment and extra-role behaviors. PSM partially mediates the relationship between goal clarity and both organizational commitment and extra-role behaviors. Additionally, goal clarity is negatively associated with budgeting inaccuracy, and this relationship is moderated by organizational commitment and worker motivation. Perceived lack of goal clarity in psychological treatments is associated with poorer therapeutic alliance, higher symptom levels, increased need for future sessions, and lower levels of care dependency.

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