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Goal Orientation and Feedback Congruence: Effects on Discretionary Effort and Achievement
Author(s) -
Merriman Kimberly K.,
Clariana Roy B.,
Bernardi Raymond J.
Publication year - 2012
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.1559-1816.2012.00961.x
Subject(s) - psychology , congruence (geometry) , outcome (game theory) , goal orientation , task (project management) , social psychology , orientation (vector space) , need for achievement , cognitive psychology , geometry , mathematics , management , mathematical economics , economics
This study examines the differential effects of outcome feedback for achievement goal orientations' relationship with effort and achievement. In support of our predictions, learning goal orientation had a positive relationship with task achievement in the absence of outcome feedback and a negative relationship in its presence, while performance goal orientation maintained a positive relationship with achievement regardless of whether outcome feedback was provided. We attribute this to a decrease in task interest when initial task purpose, as determined by personal goal orientation, is incongruent with the subsequent task cues provided by outcome feedback. Predictions regarding task effort and combined goal orientation effects were not supported. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.