Something's Got to Give: The Effects of Dual-Goal Difficulty, Goal Progress, and Expectancies on Resource Allocation

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Schmidt, Aaron M.; Dolis, Chad M.
• 署名单位: University System of Ohio; University of Akron
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/a0014945
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 678-691
• 关键词: multiple goals; resource allocation; dynamic self-regulation; expectancies; goal-performance discrepancies

摘要

The current study developed and tested a model of the interplay among goal difficulty. goal progress, and expectancy over time in influencing resource allocation toward competing demands. The results provided broad Support for the theoretical model. As predicted. dual-goal expectancy-the perceived likelihood of meeting both goals in competition-played a central role, moderating the relationship between relative goal progress and resource allocation. Dual-goal difficulty was also found to exert an important influence on multiple-goal self-regulation. Although it did not influence total productivity across both tasks combined, it did combine with other model components to influence the relative emphasis of one task over another. These results suggest that the cumulative demands placed by multiple difficult goals may exceed individuals' perceived capabilities and may lead to partial or total abandonment of 1 goal to ensure attainment of the other. The model helps shed light on some of the conflicting theoretical propositions and empirical results obtained in prior work. Implications for theory and research regarding multiple-goal self-regulation are discussed.