Goal Orientation

and the March of Science

Don Vandewalle
Management & Organizations Department
1995 Presentation Exchange on
Goal Orientation
Audience Member Question:
How would goal orientation influence my
learning how to type properly (correct finger
key match) on a computer keyboard?

Presenter Response: It depends….(Why?)

Goal Orientation and Task Performance
A learning goal orientation is the desire to develop the self by
acquiring new skills, mastering new situations, and improving
one’s competence.
+ Vandewalle et al. (1999)
Φ Phillips & Gully (1997)
 Bunderson & Sutcliffe (2003)
A proving goal orientation is the desire to demonstrate
competence and gain favorable judgments about it.
+ Hoover et al. (1999)
- Ford et al. (1998)
Φ Vandewalle et al. (1999)

And avoiding goal orientation is the desire to avoid disproving

of competency and avoid negative judgments about it.
- Consistent grim news
Goal Orientation and Task Performance
Why is there such variance in the
relationship form of goal orientation and
task performance?

 Goal Orientation Conceptualization

(see DeShon & Gillespie, 2005)

 Goal Orientation Theoretical Model

Testing and Research Design (our
focus today).
Goal Orientation and Task Performance
Consider the following:
What is goal orientation? One’s characteristic
goal preferences in achievement situations.
Why is goal orientation important? Goal
orientation influences how individuals
experience, process, and respond to
achievement situations.

Common to both statements: A focus on

achievement situations.
Goal Orientation (Circa 1980s)
Learning Goal Adaptive
Orientation  Response  Performance
Pattern
Performance Maladaptive
Goal  Response  Performance
Orientation Pattern

 Children worked on a challenging task

 Setbacks (negative feedback) were common
 Response pattern often qualitatively observed
Goal Orientation (Circa 1990s)
Self-motivation
• Direction (goal)
• Intensity
• Persistence
Goal • Resource Allocation
Performance
Orientation
Self-development
• Learning Focus
• Learning Strategy
• Feedback Seeking
• Feedback Processing

What key concept is missing from the model?

Goal Orientation (Opportunities)
Self-motivation

Goal Performance
Orientation

Self-development
Moderators

Feedback

Why is this addition critical?

Back to Task Performance Relationships
• A learning goal orientation
• + Vandewalle et al. (1999)
• Φ Phillips & Gully (1997)
•  Bunderson & Sutcliffe (2003)

• A proving goal orientation

• + Hoover et al. (1999)
• - Ford et al. (1998)
• Φ Vandewalle et al. (1999)
 Goal Orientation Model (Opportunities)
Self-motivation
• Direction (goal)
• Intensity
• Persistence
Goal • Resource Allocation
Orientation Performance
Self-development
• Learning Focus
Moderators
• Learning Strategy
• Task challenge
• Feedback Seeking
• Task characteristics
• Feedback Processing
• Task knowledge/skill
• Self-efficacy
• Task interest
• Goal alignment
• Time

Feedback
Why Moderators Matter
 Identification of moderator variables can enhance initial
research design.
 Examination of moderator variables can enhance the
predictive power of goal orientation.
 The finding of moderated relationships provides a stronger
foundation for investigation of the causal mechanisms that
mediate the relationship of goal orientation and task
performance.
 File drawer papers may have publication merit to help
explain when goal orientation does not predict performance.
 The above developments can potentially enhance the
usefulness of goal orientation in applied settings.
 Thank you
Thank You

Don Vandewalle
Management & Organizations Department