An examination of the effects of incremental goal setting on task performance and satisfaction.

Abstract

Although goal setting researchers have demonstrated that goals are effective for increasing performance, they have also suggested high goal levels are associated with low satisfaction. Since low goal levels are associated with higher satisfaction than high goals, this study hypothesized that small incremental goal increases would lead to higher performance and higher satisfaction levels than large incremental goal increases. Two groups of undergraduate students participated in the study. Word search puzzles served as the task. Goals were the number of words to be located in each puzzle. Feedback was provided that indicated each participant's performance and achievement. Participant's satisfaction was measured after each trial. While methodological problems were encountered during the study, support for the position that small incremental goal setting leads to higher performance without having an adverse effect on satisfaction was demonstrated.