Comparative analysis of goal-setting strategies across cultures

Article Abstract:

Only a few studies that have examined the effects of participation on an individual's goal acceptance and performance have been conducted within a cross-cultural context. In the present study, we tested for the contingency between the effectiveness of goal-setting strategies and cultural values. We examined three goal-setting strategies within three different cultural groups - assigned goals, goals participatively set by a group representative and the experimenter, and goals participatively set by a group. The three cultural groups studied were U.S. students (n = 60), individualistic and having a high power distance; Israeli students from kibbutzim (n = 60), highly collectivistic and having a low power distance. Results indicated that participative strategies led to higher levels of goal acceptance and performance than the assigned strategy. Culture did not moderate the effect of goal-setting strategies on goal acceptance, but it appeared to moderate the effect of strategy on performance for extremely difficult goals. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Organizational behavior, Applied psychology

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Participative goal-setting: social, motivational, and cognitive factors

Article Abstract:

This study examined three explanations of why participation in goal setting may lead to increased performance - the social factor of group discussion, the motivational factor of involvement in goal setting, and the cognitive factor of information. A 2 by 2 by 2 experimental design (low and high levels of group discussion, involvement, and information) was used to study a sample of 96 white collar employees who worked on a personnel selection task. Results indicated that the social and motivational factors of participation increased performance quantity, incidental learning, goal acceptance, group commitment, and satisfaction. The motivational and cognitive factors significantly contributed to performance quality, but the cognitive factor did not significantly affect performance quantity and work attitudes. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Decision-making, Decision making, Employee motivation, Social psychology, Performance standards, Job performance standards, Management by objectives

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Time-dependency effects of goals and norms: the role of cognitive processing on motivational models

Article Abstract:

The role of primacy and recency effects of assigned goals and externally presented performance norms was examined within a goal framework. We hypothesized that assigned goals and normative information concerning others' performance would influence self-efficacy expectations, personal goals, and performance through a primacy vs. recency mechanism. To test this mechanism, we introduced a 1-week delay between goal assignment, or external norm presentation, and the assessment of the outcome variables during a laboratory study in which 174 college students performed an arithmetic skills task. Support was found for a recency interpretation of goal effects on self-efficacy expectations, personal goals, and performance. The further role of cognitive processing in goalsetting is discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Models, Cognition, Motivation (Psychology), Social perception

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