What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether task complexity acts as a moderating factor on the effectiveness of goal-setting techniques in improving task performance.

August 1, 1987Journal of Applied Psychology

Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: A meta-analysis.

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To evaluate whether task complexity acts as a moderating factor on the effectiveness of goal-setting techniques in improving task performance.
Synthesized data from goal-setting studies conducted between 1966 and 1985 (n = 125).
Assessed task complexity using rated categories with high inter-rater reliability (reliability = .92).
Conducted subgroup analyses comparing goal difficulty (hard vs. easy), goal specificity-difficulty (specific difficult vs. do-best/no goal), and overall pooled effects.
Goal setting produced the largest performance gains on easy tasks such as reaction-time tests and brainstorming, yielding a pooled effect size of d = .76.
Performance improvements from goal setting were substantially attenuated for complex tasks like business simulations, engineering tasks, and faculty research productivity, yielding an effect size of d = .42.

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Implication

Meta-analysis reveals smaller performance gains from goal setting in complex tasks compared to simple tasks, indicating that task demands moderate motivational interventions.

Cite This Study

Wood et al. (1987) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1038ead8c5cf602efde4f4 https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.72.3.416

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Implication

Meta-analysis reveals smaller performance gains from goal setting in complex tasks compared to simple tasks, indicating that task demands moderate motivational interventions.

Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: A meta-analysis.

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: A meta-analysis.

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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