The Passage of Time: A Neglected Factor in the Goal Setting-to-Performance-to-Feedback Sequence.

Abstract

Research in both the laboratory and field settings has clearly demonstrated that performance goals affect performance. Yet, for the most part, performance has been measured for a relatively short time period following the introduction of goals. This document addresses goal-related performance from a long term perspective. Behavior is viewed from the perspective of a continuous flow or stream of events where goals presented at any one time are compared to the stream of events that preceeded them. Performance at any time, ti, after the presentation of a goal is seen as a function of performance, feedback and other conditions that have occurred before ti. Current developments in motivational theory and control theory are first presented and related to goal directed performance. This is followed by an evaluation of recent goal setting research from a time perspective. Keywords: Control theory; Motivation; Behavior; and Industrial psychology.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA159320

Entities

People

  • A. Wiggins
  • D. R. Ilgen

Organizations

  • Michigan State University

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  • Air Force
  • Applied Psychology
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  • Control Systems
  • Control Theory
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  • Motivation
  • New York
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  • Students
  • Task Performance And Analysis

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