Relationship of Goal Level to Valence and Instrumentality

Eight experiments were conducted to explore the relationships between goal level, valence, and instrumentality. Valence, measured in terms of anticipated satisfaction across a range of performance levels, was strongly but negatively related to goal level. This finding was explained by showing that l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied psychology 1992-08, Vol.77 (4), p.395-405
Main Authors: Mento, Anthony J, Locke, Edwin A, Klein, Howard J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achievement
Achievement motivation
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Goal levels
Goal setting
Goals
Human
Implications
Instrumentality
Long term
Motivation. Job satisfaction. Attitude
Occupational psychology
Performance standards
Personal development
Psychological aspects
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Satisfaction
Self image
Self-Efficacy
Social research
Statistical analysis
Studies
Variables
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
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Description
Summary:Eight experiments were conducted to explore the relationships between goal level, valence, and instrumentality. Valence, measured in terms of anticipated satisfaction across a range of performance levels, was strongly but negatively related to goal level. This finding was explained by showing that low goals entail using less stringent standards for self-evaluation than do high goals. Instrumentality was positively associated with goal level. Subjects believed that trying for hard goals would be more likely to give them a sense of achievement, develop their skills, and prove them competent than would trying for easy goals. Subjects also believed that high goals would lead to more practical (job and life) benefits, as well as more pride and self-respect, than would low goals.
ISSN:0021-9010
1939-1854
DOI:10.1037/0021-9010.77.4.395