Motivational Function of Plans and Goals

Abstract

The academic literature shows that by helping tune out distractions, goals can get individuals' to try harder, work longer, and achieve more. Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others—sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores—can sometimes have dangerous side effects (Pink, 2009). Because understanding action demands understanding intention, the idea of motivation is natural and readily expressed in everyday language. Cognitive mental events like goals and expectancies can function as a “spring to action”, a moving force that energizes and directs action in purposive ways (Reeve, 2005). Cognitive studies of motivation are dealing with relationship between cognition and action. Literature is indicating a few cognitive elements that can have motivational significance. The article presents the overview of theory and research about the motivational function of plans and goals, according to Goal setting theory (Locke & Latham, 1990) and Self-determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Suggestions for additional research are also indicated

The role of goal concordance on happiness and college students’ academic performance

“…As the result suggests, students who pursued their intended college course had higher academic performance than those who failed to adhere to their college course choice. Taking the result into consideration, the personally defined-goals may have an important role in academic performance (Alispahić, 2013). In the academic context, studies on goal concordance suggest consistent results.…”

“…Apparently, plans and goals are determinants of human behavior (Alispahić, 2013). In the academic setting, however, students' plans do not always prevail.…”