That goal-setting improves task performance is one of the best established findings in management and psychology. However, there are studies in sport and exercise psychology that have had anomalous results. This article highlights the errors in research that have produced these results. When Ss are given feedback about performance, they often use it to set goals. It has been found that Ss do spontaneously set goals, particularly when given feedback in laboratory settings.
Goal theory asserts that assigned goals affect performance through their effects on personal goals.
Knowing that a person is not committed to an assigned goal is not very helpful unless the goal which was substituted is known. Ss should be required to record actual goals in writing or on a voice tape to locate the real goals used in studies. Make specific goals difficult. Specific goals that are actually easy usually lead to lowered levels of performance. To display effects goals must be difficult.