Goal Theory
Goal theory refers to research that explores how we set and strive for the goals we set. It is a critical element in goal-oriented decision making (GOD), in that it introduces the role of motivation. This is important given most models of decision making include goals conceptually, yet ignore motivation. Models of decision making often presume the decision maker is motived by situational factors of the decision itself. For example, factors of naturalistic decision making include time pressure and high stakes. These factors "motivate" the decision maker. In the RPD model, it is the situation and the act of sensemaking that results in recognizing a potential goal. Motivation is implied as being derived from the situation, not from the goal itself.
By including goal theory in our models of decision making, it offers an alternative way to understand how we experience decision making under real world conditions. We are not only driven to decide by situational factors, but by motives related to the goals we seek to achieve.
By including goal theory in our models of decision making, it offers an alternative way to understand how we experience decision making under real world conditions. We are not only driven to decide by situational factors, but by motives related to the goals we seek to achieve.
Primary Sources
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Edwin Locke and Gary Latham
Over 50 years of research, Locke & Latham developed and refined 'Goal Setting Theory'. A key finding has been setting specific, challenging goals results in higher levels of performance than abstract, "do your best" goals. The near 700 pages of research compiled in their 2013 book, 'New Developments in Goal Setting and Task Performance", was influential in the development of GOD, as well as their 2019 paper that reviewed 50 years of goal setting theory. |
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Peter Gollwitzer & Gabrielle Oettingen
Gollwitzer developed a 'Mindset Theory of Action Phases' and Oettingen developed 'Fantasy Realization Theory'. Together, Gollwitzer and Oettingen developed mental contrasting and implementation intentions (MCII). These involves contrasting the current vs. future states and developing "if/then" intentions to deal with potential barriers to achieving one's goals. This was eventually developed into a tool for goal setting by Oettingen called 'WOOP'. The influence when developing GOD was the role of motivation as it relates to different mindsets as well as intentions to act in decision making. |
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Carol Dweck
Most well known for the power of a growth rather than fixed mindset, Dweck's contribution to GOD was primarily in challenging this assumption. Using Gollwitzer's work on MAP and observations by Adriaan de Groot on chess players, as well as concepts founded in evolutionary psychology, there is a need to better understand the benefits of a fixed mindset. This includes understanding how we can better balance these mindsets to achieve higher levels of performance. |
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Angela Duckworth
How certain emotions can drives our decisions over time is largely ignored by decision researchers. Duckworth's research conceptualizes a number of motivational factors related to persistence as 'Grit', offering insights that have been incorporated into GOD. Specifically, there is an interaction between situational and task motivation when it comes to deciding whether or not we will persist in pursuit of a particular goal. |
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