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

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 129 of the 131 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

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

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

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

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.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/0003-066x.57.9.705

Cites

129 of 129 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

7 more claims about this paper

Create a free account to see every claim other papers make about this one.

See all claims — free account

Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979) · Econometrica · doi:10.2307/1914185 · Cited by 48,524
Self-efficacy: The exercise of control
Bandura, A., Freeman, W. H., & Lightsey, R. (1999) · Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1891/0889-8391.13.2.158 · Cited by 46,835
Untitled work
(1975) · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) · Cited by 36,737
Self-efficacy: the exercise of control
(1997) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.35-1826 · Cited by 24,281
Leadership and Performance beyond Expectations
Longshore, J. M., & Bass, B. M. (1987) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.2307/258081 · Cited by 12,412
Research in Organizational Behavior.
Grimes, A. J., Cummings, L. L., & Staw, B. M. (1986) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392975 · Cited by 10,899
A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality.
Dweck, C. S., & Leggett, E. L. (1988) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.95.2.256 · Cited by 9,745
Motivational processes affecting learning.
Dweck, C. S. (1986) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.41.10.1040 · Cited by 6,971
Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology
(1993) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.30-5278 · Cited by 5,483
A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance
Tosi, H. L., Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1991) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.2307/258875 · Cited by 4,839
Self-citation

Show all 131 references

Research works printed but not linked: 9

Atkinson, 1958, Towards experimental analysis of human motivation in terms of motives, expectancies and incentives., 288
Bandura, 1986, Social foundations of thought and action: A social-cognitive theory.
Howard, 1988, Managerial lives in transition.
Kanfer, 1970, Self-regulation: Research, issues and speculation., 178
Locke, 1997, The motivation to work: What we know., Vol. 10, 375
Locke, 1997, Participation in decision-making: An information exchange perspective., Vol. 15, XXX
Ryan, 1970, Intentional behavior.
Vroom, 1964, The motivation to work.
Wood, 1990, Goal setting and strategy effects on complex tasks., Vol. 12, 73

Items 5,401–5,500 of 6,066

Leading through Performance Management in the Brunei Darussalam Public Sector
Said, T. F. (2025) · Asia in transition · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-6926-1_14
Action Planning in a Digital Behavioral Health Intervention: Exploration of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage and Weight-Related Goal-Setting Behaviors among Appalachian Adults (Preprint)Preprint
Reid, A., Ritterband, L. M., Porter, K., Brock, D. P., Frederick, C., & Zoellner, J. (2025) · doi:10.2196/preprints.71241
Goals, Expectations, and Performance
Strulov-Shlain, A., & Wellsjo, A. (2026) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.2025.00480
The Impact of Goal Setting: An Experimental Study of Employer-Assigned and Worker-Set GoalsPreprint
Altan, B., Guney, B., & Uler, N. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5128326
Effect of Project Communication Practices on the Performance of the Child Protection and Education Project Implemented by World Vision International in Rutsiro District, Rwanda
Ingabire, J., & Odengo, R. (2025) · African Journal of Empirical Research · doi:10.51867/ajernet.6.1.35
The Relationship between Growth Mindset and Academic Grit
林, 妍. (2025) · Advances in Social Sciences · doi:10.12677/ass.2025.142106
How High to Raise the Bar? The Effect of Reminders of Self-Set GoalsPreprint
Zhu, J., Abel, M., Kremer, M. R., & Harigaya, T. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5090027
Mehr als gut genug?! Auswirkungen, Einflussfaktoren und Umgang mit Perfektionismus als wahrgenommene soziale Erwartung in Organisationen
Reindl, C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-45634-4_4
Protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of an integrated psychosexual intervention for sexual difficulties in people with Multiple Sclerosis: the PIMS trial
Brown, A., Norton, S., Scott, W., Barrett, B. M., Rahman, Q., Catterall, L., Middleton, D., Kuran, M., Silber, E., & Moss-Morris, R. E. (2025) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-025-01606-8
“…traditional ‘SMART’ goal method (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, And Time-Bound) typically employed in health-related interventions [43, 44] as PACT goals are more relevant to creating longer term goals with a focus on what can be controlled by the goal-setter; this is also more in…”
Opportunities for Physical Activity Behavior Change Among Emergency Medical Services Clinicians: Qualitative Investigation
Supples, M., Chandler, A. M., Fanning, J. T., Snavely, A. C., Ashburn, N. P., Powell, S. L., Winslow, J. E., Stopyra, J. P., Moore, J. B., & Mahler, S. A. (2025) · Prehospital Emergency Care · doi:10.1080/10903127.2025.2479124
Role of Generation Alpha in Green Sustainability Through Eco-Innovation and Digital Activism
Muralidhar, L. B., Prabhu, U., Sathyanarayana, N., Rahul, V., & Kumar, V. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-9281-2.ch005
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Worker Performance and Work-Life Balance with Leadership as a Moderator: A Systematic Literature ReviewPreprint
Ahmad, H. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-6146090/v1 · Cited by 2
Soldier Retention in the Indian Military: Unraveling the Role of Pay, Promotion and Job Satisfaction
Kumar, S. V. (2025) · Armed Forces & Society · doi:10.1177/0095327x251326081
“In addition, Goal-Setting Theory emphasizes clear, challenging goals with feedback, driving performance and retention (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
Everyday emotion–goal pursuit associations in older adults are moderated by goal representations
Choi, Y., Garza, E. Z., Pauly, T., Ashe, M. C., Madden, K. M., Gerstorf, D., & Hoppmann, C. A. (2025) · Communications Psychology · doi:10.1038/s44271-025-00213-w · Cited by 1
“Additionally,goalimportancewasincorporatedintheana-lysesconsideringitsfacilitatingroleinmotivationalprocessessuchasgoal settingandengagement 42 .”
SingleMALD: Investigating practice effects in auditory lexical decision
Nenadić, F., Bujandrić, K., Kelley, M. C., & Tucker, B. V. (2025) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/s13428-025-02628-z
“…experiments and other psycholinguistic tasks are not yet fully explored (see, e.g., goal-setting theory as one framework that problematizes the relationship between goal difﬁculty, task difﬁculty, and performance; Locke & Latham, 2002; 2013; Lunenburg, 2011).”
Unveiling the Cultural Lens: Performance Dimensions Influencing Goal Setting of an Individual Employee Mediated by Organization Culture
Mughal, S. H., Channa, M. A., Brohi, M. A., & Solangi, B. (2025) · Journal of Political Stability Archive · doi:10.63468/jspa.3.1.38
Consequence-Aware Takeovers: Enhancing Safety in Autonomous Driving Transitions
Zhang, C., Liu, Z., Shen, Y., Yang, Z., Li, H., Ma, S., & Zhang, J. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2484417 · Cited by 1
“The goal-setting theory posits that individuals regulate and control their behavior by setting specific goals in order to achieve desired outcomes (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
Locus of Control and Economic Decision-Making: A Field Experiment in Odisha, India
Jansson, C. A., Patil, V., Vecci, J., Veettil, P. C., & Yashodha (2022) · Economic Development and Cultural Change · doi:10.1086/736105
The Scientific and Artistic Aspects of Motivation
Şengöz, M. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-7398-9.ch023
Prioritizing Partnerships in School-Based Implementation Research and Practice: Applying the ACCESS Model
Tugendrajch, S. K., Comly, R., Rushworth, S., Eiraldi, R. B., Wolk, C. B., & Creed, T. A. (2025) · Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health · doi:10.1080/23794925.2025.2485085 · Cited by 1
'EAT FIVE A DAY' VS 'EAT ONE MORE': INCREASED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION WHEN GOALS ARE PROVIDED, AND WHEN GOALS ARE MORE ACHIEVABLE OR PERCEIVED TO BE EASIER.
Appleton, K. M., & Borgonha, Z. (2025) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2025.108014
“The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) [Ajzen, 2002] was used as a theoretical framework for the study, alongside goal-setting theory [Locke & Latham, 2002; Locke & Latham, 2006] to further explain any variance in our outcomes, hence the use of some particular constructs.”
Influential
Dynamic and Disaggregated Perspectives on Management Control
Schrøder-Hansen, K. (2025) · OpenArchive@CBS (Copenhagen Business School) · doi:10.22439/phd.09.2025
How, when, and why do Negotiators Use Reference Points? A Qualitative Interview Study with Negotiation Practitioners
Mann, M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-47779-0_2
To download or not to download the app: app incentives and behavioural outcomes
Hoang, D., Zhang, H. C., & Lodorfos, G. (2025) · Journal of Strategic Marketing · doi:10.1080/0965254x.2025.2493626
Determinants of student retention in UAE private higher education institutions: the mediating role of goal-setting
Akkawi, A. (2025) · Journal of Information Systems Engineering & Management · doi:10.52783/jisem.v10i39s.7170
Goal-setting participation, experiencing tensions and budgetary performance: exploring the moderation role of paradox mindset
Macinati, M. S., & Rizzo, M. G. (2025) · Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change · doi:10.1108/jaoc-11-2024-0386
Integrating mind-body processes and motivational interviewing in health coaching: enhancing support for health behavior change
Wolever, R. Q., & Weinand, R. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1478525 · Cited by 2
The effect of reminders for self-set goals on productivity
Abel, M., Harigaya, T., Kremer, M. R., & Zhu, J. (2026) · Journal of Development Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2026.103822
The Development of HR Analytics in Research: A Bibliometric Study
Chatterjee, T. (2025) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-2548-2_21
Managing Remote Teams: The PACE Method for Sustainable PerformancePreprint
Jovanovic, R. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5182217
Core Behavorial Competency Skills and Key Results Areas among Non-Teaching Personnel
LABITAD, Z. G. (2025) · International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research · doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i03.41355
Bringing Joy into the Classroom
González, V. V., Barbato, K. L., Kim, C., et al. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-6115-3.ch011
Commitment assumed as a factor of achieving competitive advantage through people
Raevskaia, I. (2025) · doi:10.59295/spd2024j.101
Implicit sense of gratification : a new lens on academic intrinsic motivation
Su, H. (2020) · Scholars Archive - University at Albany (University at Albany, State University of New York) · doi:10.54014/cx2x-72kc
Evaluation scale and behavioral model construction for intention to use postpartum exercise rehabilitation mobile application based on user experience
Wang, Z., Wang, Z., Deng, R., Xia, M., & Huang, L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1575049
Diagnosing the Importance of Functions of Organizational Culture on the Recruitment Policy and the Performance of an Organization: Key Indicators for Sustainable Corporate Management
Nişel, R. (2025) · Accounting, finance, sustainability, governance & fraud · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-5937-1_3
Lösungs- und Behandlungsansätze: umfassende Konsumkompetenz entwickeln
Hoffmann, O. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-71160-6_6
Goal setting and signposting in a rasch-based recommender system to promote household energy conservation
Oonk, A. S., Starke, A. D., & Willemsen, M. C. (2025) · Energy Efficiency · doi:10.1007/s12053-025-10332-2
“According to Locke and Latham (2002), the mere presence of goals increases performance, and an adequate balance between goal difficulty and feasibility leads to higher satisfaction.”
Evaluation of virtual solution-focused coaching-peds (SFC-peds) with youth with neuromuscular conditions: a randomized trial of delivery intensities
Hull, K., Ippolito, C., Frydman, D., et al. (2025) · Developmental Neurorehabilitation · doi:10.1080/17518423.2025.2515357
Incentivizing Sustainability a Gamified Approach to Plastic Waste and Pollution Challenges
Saha, S., Srivastava, A., & Srivastava, N. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-8886-0.ch013
The Psychology Behind Fitness and Nutrition InactionPreprint
nelson, A. (2025) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202506.1057.v1
Promoting Age-Inclusive Training: How Firms’ Business Goals and Industry Contexts Shape Workforce DevelopmentPreprint
Lee, Z., Foong, H. F., & Chen, X. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5298364
Führungsprozesse effektiv gestalten: Tools & Techniken
Rudolph, P. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-48360-9_4
Aligning Compensation System Strategies With Ethical Conduct: Lessons From Call Centers
Bell, C. Y. (2025) · Compensation & Benefits Review · doi:10.1177/08863687251356525 · Cited by 1
Fostering Dissertation Motivation: A Key to Doctoral Research Success
John, G., & Wani, M. A. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-4905-9.ch007
Augment the Culture of Motivation: A Study on the Influence of Motivation on Job Satisfaction Level in the Airline Industry of Bangladesh
Nasrin, H., & Hassan, M. M. (2025) · Open Journal of Business and Management · doi:10.4236/ojbm.2025.134134
Factors influencing the role of lecturers in guiding learning methods and motivating students at The University of Danang - University of Foreign Language Studies
Thơ, N. T., & Tiến, V. V. (2025) · The University of Danang - Journal of Science and Technology · doi:10.31130/ud-jst.2025.23(6b).202
The Driving Mechanisms and Efficiency Enhancement Pathways for Corporate Participation in University-Industry Integration (UII)
Liu, J., Wang, X., Miao, W., & Wang, X. (2025) · Journal of the Knowledge Economy · doi:10.1007/s13132-025-02836-0
“This perspective aligns with goal-setting theory (Locke & Latham, 2002), which emphasizes that clear and specific goals can enhance the effectiveness of inter-organizational collaboration.”
“Go Easy on Me!” Supervisor Discretion in Target Setting after Managerial Turnover
Verschaeve, M., Cardinaels, E., Smeulders, D., et al. (2025) · Journal of Management Accounting Research · doi:10.2308/jmar-2024-037
The general intervention model of policing: a narrative review of the literature
Schade, S., & Thielgen, M. M. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1587452
Community Interventions
Ward, T. J., Willis, G. M., Prescott, D. S., et al. (2025) · Advances in preventing and treating violence and aggression · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-95559-4_6
Unveiling the Strategic Impact of Performance Appraisals on Employee Productivity in Bangalore’s Automotive Firms
Mathew, B., & Thanushree, M. (2025) · INTERANTIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT · doi:10.55041/ijsrem51534
Balancing Between Extremes: Goal Ambiguity‐Based Strategies to Contain Goal Displacement in Regulatory Enforcement Agencies
Huizinga, K., & de Bree, M. (2025) · Regulation & Governance · doi:10.1111/rego.70062
Comparison of Coaching with Other Methods
Greif, S. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-96192-2_3
Directions and Concepts of Coaching
Greif, S. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-96192-2_5
Structured Coaching Frameworks for Inclusive and Personalized Education
Aberdeen, I. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-4445-4.ch012
In the hand of the family: Management practices and perceived job quality
Ehmann, S., Kampkötter, P., Wenzel, J., & Wolter, S. (2025) · Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization · doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107135
Identifying Root Causes of Low Performance Ratings Among Mathematics Faculty: A Case Study
Manalaysay, E. G., Balilla, J., & Arellano, M. C. (2025) · Journal of interdisciplinary perspectives · doi:10.69569/jip.2025.496
Because I Care: The Effect of Value Congruence and Compensation Scheme on Target Setting in Social Mission Organizations
Olczak, W., Thomas, T. F., & Yatsenko, D. (2025) · Journal of Management Accounting Research · doi:10.2308/jmar-2024-027
The Effect of Personality on the Achievement of Physical Activity GoalsPreprint
AlMulhem, S. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5374967
Communication Competence of Social Media Specialist in Building Brand Awareness of Honda Central Java on Social Media Instagram
Priliantini, A., & Aji, B. S. (2025) · Journal of Social Interactions and Humanities · doi:10.55927/jsih.v4i2.343
Evaluation of a mental health promotion workbook for increasing knowledge and encouraging behavior changes
Shimazaki, T., Yamauchi, T., Shimada, H., & Suka, M. (2025) · Journal of Communications In Healthcare · doi:10.1080/17538068.2025.2532296
“Finally, page seven consisted of a goal-setting and planning sheet, developed according to the goal-setting theory [42] and the health action process approach [43].”
Factors affecting how well athletes perform mentally: The impact of optimism, pessimism, and mental well-beingPreprint
Arındı, E., Adiloğulları, İ., & Özgider, C. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-6865136/v1 · Cited by 2
Review on Time
Levasseur, L. (2025) · SpringerBriefs in entrepreneurship and innovation · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-98553-9_2
The Psychology of Savings: How Regulatory Focus of Financial Ads and Personal Savings Orientation Drive Saving Intentions
Gupta, A., Shamim, I., & Ghosh, T. (2025) · Australasian Marketing Journal (AMJ) · doi:10.1177/14413582251362342
“Goal-systems theory maintains that once information is tagged as self-diagnostic, it receives disproportionate weight in valuation processes, increasing the motivational priority of the linked end-state (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
Self-Advising: A Non-Monetary Performance Booster for Remote WorkersPreprint
Lee, Y.-S., & Qin, F. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5372584
Psychedelics and the Ontology of Work: A Qualitative Study of Career Transformation, Spiritual Embodiment, and Purpose-Driven Labour
Overall, J. S. (2025) · Journal of Management Spirituality & Religion · doi:10.51327/zjmz7806
Inside or Outside? The Role of Decision Origin in Idea Pivoting in Creative Teams
Sohn, W., Yoon, D., & Ha, J. (2025) · Journal of Business and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10869-025-10057-0 · Cited by 1
Beyond Publication: The INDEX Framework for Excelling in ResearchPreprint
Anantharaman, S. K. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5386530
6 ways to build motivation to do your schoolwork now that you’re forced to learn online at home
Korstange, R. (2020) · The Conversation · doi:10.64628/aai.5u5qjj3w6
Designing an Algorithm for Promoting Mentor-Mentee Relationships: Enhancing the Learning Approach of Mentee
Dave, N. K., & Kavathiya, H. R. (2025) · International Conference on Emerging Trends in Industry 4.0 Technologies (ICETI4T) · doi:10.1109/iceti4t63625.2025.11132198
“When they meet milestones, it also provides them a sense of success, which boosts their confidence and offers them fuel for continued progress [39, 40].”
New Horizons scientists were masters of the long haul – here’s how people stick with extremely long-term goals
Barry, B., & Bateman, T. S. (2015) · doi:10.64628/aai.5m55umg6h
Creating an Operating Code: PHM Team Formation Practices
Hubbard, E. A. O., & Goldman, E. F. (2025) · Clinical Pediatrics · doi:10.1177/00099228251370559
Fostering individual entrepreneurial orientation among employees: the role of leaders communicating entrepreneurial visions and goals
Gänser-Stickler, G. M., Burmeister–Lamp, K., Kuske, J., & Schwens, C. (2025) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115637 · Cited by 4
Motivation und Volition im Beruf und am Arbeitsplatz
Kehr, H. M., Strasser, M., & Paulus, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-69368-1_19
Motivation und Volition im Sport
Beckmann, J., & Kossak, T. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-69368-1_20
The effect of an increase in unit price on self-set goals in a success-based fee system: Gain and loss domains
Nakamoto, Y. (2025) · Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics · doi:10.1016/j.socec.2025.102432
Machine Learning-Based EEG Biomarkers of Adaptive Behavior Under Motivational LoadPreprint
Mouazen, B. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5432896
Enhancement of Squat Motivation through Fuzzy Inference-based Performance Scoring and Feedback
Okamoto, Y., Maulana, M. F., OKABE, K., Sato-Shimokawara, E., & Yeung, C. (2025) · IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems (FUZZ-IEEE) · doi:10.1109/fuzz62266.2025.11152201
“This theory is based on the concept that motivation increases through specific goal-setting and appropriate feedback [13].”
Keeping the goal in sight and in mind: The association between visual attention and motivational mindsets among runners
Balcetis, E., Daley, J. S., Tao, B., & Lexow, B. (2025) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104822
Not just the game: The impact of structural gamification on charitable donations
Gong, X., & Ye, S. (2025) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105521
Development and Validity Evaluation of the Index of Social Work Process in Promoting Social Participation of Welfare Recipients (SWP-PSP) in Japan
Takagi, Y., & Hashimoto, H. (2025) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph22091458
“…referring to Transformational Leadership [20], Leader–Member Exchange theory [21–24], Self-Determination theory [25,26], and Goal Setting theory [27,28], we extracted five concepts related to social work process, namely: (a) trust building, (b) active listening, (c) suggesting goal options, (d)…”
The Effect of Online Fitness Challenges on Channel Performance and User EngagementPreprint
Lee, S., Mitkina, M., Doosti, S., & Tan, Y. C. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5504398
“Finding your values is important. You only die once.” - Analysing goal-talk in incarcerated adolescents struggling with substance use from a Relational Frame Theory perspective
Mälarstig, I., Törneke, N., Lundgren, T., Alfonsson, S., & Tyrberg, M. J. (2025) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100947
“Goals specifying appetitive consequences are associated with greater well-being and a higher chance of facilitating behavioural change and vice versa; aversive consequences are associated with psychopathology (Locke & Latham, 2002).”
Influential
The timestamp effect: How prior contribution timing shapes future donations
Atanga, B. A., & Mattila, A. S. (2025) · International Journal of Hospitality Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104423
The impact of career planning and self-concept on employability among university students: exploring the mediating role of learning attitudes
Yu, S. Y., Liu, Q., & Liu, X. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1818002 · Cited by 1
Electrifying Empowerment: Women Role Models and Solar Electrification in Rural MyanmarPreprint
Vega-Carol, F., Pattanayak, S. K., Nwe, Z., & Nepal, M. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5511739
Improving the person-centredness of occupational therapy input into care planning in acute adult and older adults’ inpatient services using Goal-Directed Care Plan guidelines
Ige, J. J., Screaton, E., Jepson, E., Morgan, D., & Bifarin, O. O. (2025) · BMJ Open Quality · doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2025-003543
“10 11 Instead, it was based on the professional opinion of a management consultant aimed at a business audience, 10 indicating a challenge of transferability of this method of goal setting in acute mental health settings without clear guidance.”
Group Counseling on Meaning in Life: A Strategy to Improve Learning Engagement in Chinese Adolescents with Limited Connection to Nature
Bai, X., Liu, W., Ge, W., & Sun, X. (2025) · School Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s12310-025-09798-3 · Cited by 1
“Meaning in life helps individuals to set clear life and learning goals, further enhancing task performance and engagement (Locke et al., 2002).”
Early career setback and future achievement in professional sports
Maity, S. K., Wang, Y., Dehmamy, N., Medvec, V. H., Uzzi, B., & Wang, D. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-17271-z
“In parallel, goal-setting theory 61 suggests that specific, challenging but attainable goals boost motivation and performance by focusing attention and enhancing persistence.”
Teaching Creativity at the Adelaide Business School: (Non-)Play and (Non-)Task Relatedness
Hawa, J., Dissanayake, M., & Lindsay, W. (2025) · Palgrave studies in creativity and innovation in organizations · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-89816-7_5
Motivation and Volition in the Workplace
Kehr, H. M., Strasser, M., & Paulus, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-87947-0_19
Exploring Positive Psychology and Goal Setting in Esports Coaching: A Thematic Analysis of Professional Fortnite Coaches
Jaffe, S., Jackson, N., & Rhodes, J. (2025) · Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports · doi:10.1123/jege.2024-0060
Motivation
Grassinger, R., Dickhäuser, O., & Dresel, M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-69557-9_14
How to check in continually over 4,000 days on an online learning platform? An empirical experience and a practical solution
Lin, J. (2025) · International Conference on Distance Education and Learning (ICDEL) · doi:10.1109/icdel65868.2025.11193488
“According to the goal-setting theory [21], appropriate goals are able to strengthen students’ motivation in learning.”
A Pilot Study of Solution-Focused Goal-Settings Group Counseling on Adolescent Students
Sancak, E., Körük, S., & Kurt, A. A. (2025) · International Journal of Group Psychotherapy · doi:10.1080/00207284.2025.2557289 · Cited by 1
“By drawing on principles of SFBT (de Shazer et al., 2007) and goal-setting theory (Locke & Latham, 2002), the program offers a replicable framework that emphasizes personal agency, future orientation, and practical problem-solving.”
Influential
Managing the Feels on the Field
Grace, A. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-8573-9.ch007
The Use and Design of Emissions Targets and Internal Carbon Pricing: Evidence from a Global SamplePreprint
Deller, C., Kim, S., & Moran, J. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5588470
WARUM: Perspektive: POZE – ein multidisziplinärer Lebensrahmen
Walther, C. C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-95463-4_1
Creating employee–talent motivation systems in start-up companies
Šyvokaitė, A., & Oželienė, D. (2025) · Mokslas - Lietuvos ateitis · doi:10.3846/mla.2025.24086

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

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Data sources

Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.

Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).

Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.

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

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks

Data sources