Motivational Goal Bracketing: An experiment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Motivational Goal Bracketing

T2 - An experiment

AU - Koch, Alexander Karl

AU - Nafziger, Julia

PY - 2020/1

Y1 - 2020/1

N2 - We study theoretically and experimentally how the bracketing of non-binding goals in a repeated task affects the level of goals that people set for themselves, the actual effort provided, and the pattern of effort over time. In our model, a sophisticated or partially naïve individual sets either daily or weekly goals to overcome a motivational problem caused by present-biased preferences. In an online, real-effort experiment, we randomly allocated subjects to treatments where they set either daily goals for how much to work over a one-week period or a single weekly goal. Consistent with the theoretical predictions, in the treatment with daily goals, the aggregate goal level for the week was higher and subjects provided more effort compared to the treatment with a weekly goal. The higher effort was driven by the higher aggregate goal level. Additional treatments complemented internal commitment through goals with an externally enforced minimum work requirement to get started working each day.

AB - We study theoretically and experimentally how the bracketing of non-binding goals in a repeated task affects the level of goals that people set for themselves, the actual effort provided, and the pattern of effort over time. In our model, a sophisticated or partially naïve individual sets either daily or weekly goals to overcome a motivational problem caused by present-biased preferences. In an online, real-effort experiment, we randomly allocated subjects to treatments where they set either daily goals for how much to work over a one-week period or a single weekly goal. Consistent with the theoretical predictions, in the treatment with daily goals, the aggregate goal level for the week was higher and subjects provided more effort compared to the treatment with a weekly goal. The higher effort was driven by the higher aggregate goal level. Additional treatments complemented internal commitment through goals with an externally enforced minimum work requirement to get started working each day.

KW - Commitment

KW - Goals

KW - Narrow bracketing

KW - Online experiment

KW - Real effort

KW - Self-control

U2 - 10.1016/j.jet.2019.104949

DO - 10.1016/j.jet.2019.104949

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0022-0531

VL - 185

JO - Journal of Economic Theory

JF - Journal of Economic Theory

M1 - 104949

ER -