An attributional model of goal setting was developed and tested in an attempt to explain the inconsistencies in the literature regarding the effects of participation on satisfaction and performance. A 2 x 2 factorial design was employed. Subjects (102 undergraduate business students) were randomly assigned to formal goal-setting (participative or assigned) and knowledge of results (KR) (success or failure) conditions. The experimental task consisted of validating numerical data and entering corrections on a computer terminal. The dependent variables observed included subjects': (1) causal attributions for their performance outcomes; (2) affective reactions; (3) future performance expectancies; (4) future performance intentions; (5) effort; (6) task performance; and (7) goal acceptance. The moderating effects of locus of control, need for achievement and self-esteem were also investigated. / The results indicated that the formal method of goal setting employed and KR received influenced subjects' causal attributions for their performance outcomes which, in turn, were related to their feelings of satisfaction, future performance expectancies, intentions and task performance. Positive feedback led to greater internal attributions than negative feedback and this was augmented under assigned goal setting. Subjects in the positive feedback condition also tended to express lower satisfaction when allowed to participate in goal setting than when assigned a goal. Subjects' attributions to stable factors (i.e. ability and task difficulty) were found to be related to typical shifts in expectancy and intentions under assigned goal setting. Under participative goal setting, typical shifts of expectancy and intentions were expressed only when subjects' made greater ability rather than task difficulty attributions. Intentions were positively correlated with task performance. However, effort, performance and goal acceptance did not vary significantly between the two goal-setting conditions. Finally, need for achievement and locus of control were found to moderate the effects of goal-setting method and KR on subjects' causal attributions. / These findings contradict the accepted notion that participation in goal setting has a positive impact on subordinates' satisfaction. They also point out the role played by causal attributions in delineating the conditions under which individuals will vary their goal intentions. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-12, Section: A, page: 4446. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1986.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75989 |
| Contributors | SAUERS, DANIEL ALAN., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 157 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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