Goal-Setting & Task Performance

In the journal article "Managing time: the effects of personal goal setting on resource allocation strategy and task performance," authors Strickland and Galimba (2001) centered their discussion on the relationship between goal setting and task performance among undergraduate students. Using an experimental design for the study, the authors explored whether goal-setting influences task performance or not. Furthermore, they also determined whether there are differences between the task performances of undergraduate students with and without set goals.

Findings of the study supported these hypotheses. Indeed, it was noted from the experiment that students with set goals have better task performance than those without while undergoing a series of activities that tested their verbal, numerical, and spatial-relations skills and abilities. 'Better task performance' meant that students who have set goals performed efficiently, without having to resort to repeated "task switching." Those who do not have a set of goals for the tasks given them ended up task switching more often than the other group. From these findings, the authors proved that efficiency in task performance is primarily influenced by the set of goals formed by the students/task performers themselves.

Spieker and Hisz's (2004) study centered on similar objectives as Strickland and Galimba's study. In their study, the authors also found out that those (undergraduate) students who have specific set of goals have higher efficacy in terms of task performance compared to those who did not have specific goals upon the accomplishment of the task. Another important implication of the study is that the authors showed how a comparison of previous and present goal-setting among students further increase the chances of "repeated" efficacy in the tasks they seek to accomplish.

Works cited

Spieker, C. And V. Hinsz. (2004). "Repeated success and failure influences on self-efficacy and personal goals." Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, Vol. 32, Issue 2.

Strickland, O. And M. Galimba. (2001). "Managing time: the effects of personal goal setting on resource allocation strategy and task performance." The Journal of Psychology, Vol. 135, Issue 4.