Self-Set Goals are Effective Self-Regulation Tools -- Despite Goal Revision

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Self-Set Goals are Effective Self-Regulation Tools -- Despite Goal Revision. / Kaiser, Jonas Pilgaard ; Koch, Alexander Karl ; Nafziger, Julia.

CEPR Working Paper, 2021.

Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Working paper › Research

Bibtex

@techreport{0377426f15a84c1482344e189359ad88,

title = "Self-Set Goals are Effective Self-Regulation Tools -- Despite Goal Revision",

abstract = "We test whether and why non-binding, self-set goals are effective even though individuals can easily revise such goals. Depending on the treatment, subjects either set a goal a few days before working on an online task or right at the start of the task. In the former case, they may or may not be explicitly asked to revise their goal at the start of the task. Consistent with the hypothesis that goals are self-regulation tools, we observe that goals set before the task are larger than goals set at the start of the task. And they are effective: Subjects work more when a goal was set a few days before the task than when it was set at the start of the task. Importantly, these results arise even though subjects revise their initial goals. They do so no matter whether goal revision is made explicit or not – suggesting that goal revision is an important factor for goal non-achievement",

author = "Kaiser, {Jonas Pilgaard} and Koch, {Alexander Karl} and Julia Nafziger",

year = "2021",

language = "English",

publisher = "CEPR Working Paper",

address = "United Kingdom",

type = "WorkingPaper",

institution = "CEPR Working Paper",

}

RIS

TY - UNPB

T1 - Self-Set Goals are Effective Self-Regulation Tools -- Despite Goal Revision

AU - Kaiser, Jonas Pilgaard

AU - Koch, Alexander Karl

AU - Nafziger, Julia

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - We test whether and why non-binding, self-set goals are effective even though individuals can easily revise such goals. Depending on the treatment, subjects either set a goal a few days before working on an online task or right at the start of the task. In the former case, they may or may not be explicitly asked to revise their goal at the start of the task. Consistent with the hypothesis that goals are self-regulation tools, we observe that goals set before the task are larger than goals set at the start of the task. And they are effective: Subjects work more when a goal was set a few days before the task than when it was set at the start of the task. Importantly, these results arise even though subjects revise their initial goals. They do so no matter whether goal revision is made explicit or not – suggesting that goal revision is an important factor for goal non-achievement

AB - We test whether and why non-binding, self-set goals are effective even though individuals can easily revise such goals. Depending on the treatment, subjects either set a goal a few days before working on an online task or right at the start of the task. In the former case, they may or may not be explicitly asked to revise their goal at the start of the task. Consistent with the hypothesis that goals are self-regulation tools, we observe that goals set before the task are larger than goals set at the start of the task. And they are effective: Subjects work more when a goal was set a few days before the task than when it was set at the start of the task. Importantly, these results arise even though subjects revise their initial goals. They do so no matter whether goal revision is made explicit or not – suggesting that goal revision is an important factor for goal non-achievement

M3 - Working paper

BT - Self-Set Goals are Effective Self-Regulation Tools -- Despite Goal Revision

PB - CEPR Working Paper

ER -

Department of Economics and Business Economics