Goal-setting, self-efficacy, and learning performance: A causal model.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to confirm the structural relationship of goal setting variables to performance. Performance was measured in learning mathematics lessons. Linear structural modeling techniques were used to evaluate the goal setting model. The exogenous variables were prior performance, goal difficulty, and self-evaluation. The endogenous variables were self-expectancy, self-efficacy, personal goal, and performance. There was support for the model of goal setting as proposed in this study. The nested alternate structural model for goal setting was the most parsimonious model. This model evidenced a negative effect of easy specific assigned goals on self efficacy. Vague and challenging specific goals had a positive effect on self efficacy. Prior performance, assigned goal, and self evaluation had positive path coefficients to self efficacy which, in turn, had a positive path coefficient to performance. Descriptive univariate statistics tended to support the theory of goal setting. These findings corroborate the results of the structural equation analysis.