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The Influence of Goal Orientation on Task Performance: A Substantively Meaningful Suppressor Variable 1
Author(s) -
Hofmann David A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01068.x
Subject(s) - moderation , psychology , task (project management) , cognition , goal orientation , orientation (vector space) , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , interference (communication) , dysfunctional family , cognitive psychology , elementary cognitive task , social psychology , computer science , channel (broadcasting) , telecommunications , neuroscience , mathematics , geometry , management , economics , psychotherapist
The present study investigated the relationship between performance goal orientation and performance on a complex task. It was hypothesized that cognitive interference would mediate this relationship. In addition, it was hypothesized that cognitive ability would moderate the relationship between cognitive interference and task performance. A three‐variable suppressor relationship indicated that, although the direct effect of performance goal orientation on performance was one that produced better performance, the indirect effect of performance goal orientation indicated that performance orientations were associated with increases in cognitive interference, and these increases in cognitive interference were associated with poorer performance. Thus, the beneficial aspect of performance goal orientation (i. e., the direct effect) was counterbalanced by the dysfunctional aspects of performance goal orientation (i. e., the associated increase in cognitive interference). Support was also found for the proposed moderation of ability on the cognitive interference‐task performance relationship for final, but not initial performance. The results are interpreted in light of recent discussions regarding the influence of goal orientation on task performance and cognitive interference.