Cited by 598Education, Achievement, and GiftednessEmployee Performance and MotivationBehavioral Health and Interventions

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Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: a meta-analysis

Wood, Robert E., Mento, Anthony J., Locke, Edwin A.·1987·Journal of Applied Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0021-9010.72.3.416

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Abstract

Much evidence exists that supports the use of goal setting as a motivational technique for enhancing task performance; howevei; little attention has been given to the role of task characteristics as potential moderating conditions of goal effects. Meta-analysis procedures were used to assess the moderator effects of task complexity for goal-setting studies conducted from 1966 to 1985 (n = 125). The reliability ofthe task complexity ratings was .92. Three sets of analyses were conducted: for goaldifficulty results (hard vs. easy), for goal specificity-difficulty (specific difficult goals vs. do-best or no goal), and for all studies collapsed across goal difficulty and goal specificity-difficulty. It was generally found that goal-setting effects were strongest for easy tasks (reaction time, brainstorming), d = .76, and weakest for more complex tasks (business game simulations, scientific and engineering work, faculty research productivity), d = .42. Implications for future research on goal setting and the validity of generalizing results are discussed.

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Authors: Wood, R. E., Mento, A. J., & Locke, E. A.
Affiliations: UNSW Sydney (AU)
ORCID: Wood, Robert E.
Locke, Edwin A.
Venue: Journal of Applied Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1987-08
Volume: 72
Issue: 3
Pages: 416-425
ISSN: 0021-9010 (ISSN-L)
1939-1854
DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.72.3.416
OpenAlex: W2067506429
Cited by: 598
References: 107
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 25
FWCI: 17.14
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Employee Performance and Motivation
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Keywords: goal setting, task complexity, goal difficulty, goal specificity, task performance, motivation, moderator effects, reaction time, brainstorming, research productivity

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Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: a meta-analysis

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