Cited by 7,766Education, Achievement, and GiftednessHuman Behavior and MotivationBehavioral Health and Interventions

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Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey.

Locke, Edwin A., Latham, Gary P.·2002·American Psychologist

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Abstract

The authors summarize 35 years of empirical research on goal-setting theory, describing the core findings of the theory, the mechanisms by which goals operate, moderators of goal effects, the relation of goals and satisfaction, and the role of goals as mediators of incentives.

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“The Goal Orientation items are designed to encapsulate the key features of goalfocused self-regulation which underpins an orientation toward solution construction (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
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“A vast array of research has shown that difficult and specific goals relate to superior performance (see Locke and Latham, 2002 ).”
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“To improve students’ achievement, these studies suggest, instruction should help them set specific and challenging goals and provide them with accurate and relevant progress-related feedback (e.g., Schunk and Swartz, 1993; Locke and Latham, 2002).”
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“Locke and Latham (2002) demonstrated that individuals who set goals, which are specific, challenging, and finite, are more likely to focus their efforts on goal directed activities and away from goal-divergent distractions [19].”
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“In the right column, I identify how these principles were applied in developing goal-setting theory (see Locke & Latham, 1990, 2002, 2013, for further details).”
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Authors: Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P.
Affiliations: University of Maryland, College Park (US)
ORCID: Locke, Edwin A.
Latham, Gary P.
Venue: American Psychologist
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2002-09
Volume: 57
Issue: 9
Pages: 705-717
ISSN: 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
1935-990X
DOI: 10.1037/0003-066x.57.9.705
OpenAlex: W4237356565
Cited by: 7,766
References: 131
Citations by year: 2026: 527 · 2025: 509 · 2024: 464 · 2023: 511 · 2022: 428 · 2021: 456 · 2020: 540 · 2019: 467 · 2018: 460 · 2017: 421 · 2016: 395 · 2015: 408 · 2014: 370 · 2013: 313 · 2012: 333
FWCI: 59.32
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Human Behavior and Motivation
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Keywords: goal setting, task motivation, motivation theories, goal difficulty, goal specificity, feedback, task difficulty
MeSH terms: Goals, Humans, Motivation, Psychological Theory

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Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey.

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