The effects of performance feedback and both conscious and unconscious goal setting on performance: A priming study

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2014

Öğrenci: ÜMRAN YÜCE SELVİ

Danışman: HAYRİYE CANAN SÜMER

Özet:

The major aim of the current study was to examine the effects of feedback and goal setting on performance. A 2 (Feedback, No Feedback) x 3 (Conscious Goal Setting, Unconscious Goal Setting, and both Conscious and Unconscious Goal Setting) x 2 (Trial 1, Trial 2) experimental design was conducted. A total of 208 participants constituted the sample of the study. Priming method was used to set unconscious goals. Specifically, achievement-related photos were used in priming the achievement motive of the participants through which performance was expected to improve. Performance task involved listing the potential uses of a common object. Results of this experimental study indicated that conscious goal setting, unconscious goal setting, and conscious and unconscious goal setting together, they all improved performance from Trial 1 to Trial 2. However, performance improvement was significantly higher in the conscious goal setting condition than in the unconscious goal setting condition. The combination of conscious and unconscious goal setting was not statistically superior to either conscious goal setting or unconscious goal setting alone. Neither a main effect of feedback nor an interaction of feedback and goal setting was significant. The study findings are discussed along with the limitations and potential contributions to the literature.