Western Kentucky University
The Impact of Goals on Attention, Anxiety, and Performance
Major
Psychology
Minor
Clinical and Community Behavioral Health
2nd Student Major
Masters in Clinical Psychology
Institution 23-24
Western Kentucky University
KY House District #
4; 20
KY Senate District #
6; 5
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Steven Wininger, PhD
Department
Psychology Department
Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine how the type of goal one sets impacts direction of attentional focus, levels of pre-performance anxiety, and performance across different tasks.
Hypotheses:
H1: Self-referenced performance goals will result in better performance compared to intrinsic goal.
H2: Intrinsic goals will result in lower pre-performance cognitive anxiety.
Exploratory Question: How do goal types affect differences in attentional focus.
Procedure:
Task one consisted of utilizing a balance board as the controller for a maze game. Task two was a prone plank task. In session one, participants pursued an intrinsic goal; instructions were to “have fun and enjoy the activity.” During the second session participants pursued a self-referenced performance goal, with a target performance of at least 25% better than baseline.
Results:
Hypothesis number one was supported. Participants performed better with a self-referenced performance goal vs an intrinsic goal across both tasks.
Hypothesis number two was not supported. Pre-performance anxiety was higher in the intrinsic goal session compared to the performance goal condition for the plank task, opposite of our hypothesis. There were no differences in pre-performance anxiety for the balance task.
Examination of the exploratory research question revealed that the main difference in direction of attentional focus for the plank task was more focus on goal or strategy during the performance goal session compared to the intrinsic goal session. The main difference in direction of attentional focus for the balance task was more worries, concerns, or anxiety during the performance goal session compared to the intrinsic goal session.
Conclusion:
Goals had a significant impact on both performance and direction of attentional focus. Performance goals resulted in better performance, more goal/strategy focus for the plank task and more worries, concerns, or anxiety for the balance task.
The Impact of Goals on Attention, Anxiety, and Performance
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine how the type of goal one sets impacts direction of attentional focus, levels of pre-performance anxiety, and performance across different tasks.
Hypotheses:
H1: Self-referenced performance goals will result in better performance compared to intrinsic goal.
H2: Intrinsic goals will result in lower pre-performance cognitive anxiety.
Exploratory Question: How do goal types affect differences in attentional focus.
Procedure:
Task one consisted of utilizing a balance board as the controller for a maze game. Task two was a prone plank task. In session one, participants pursued an intrinsic goal; instructions were to “have fun and enjoy the activity.” During the second session participants pursued a self-referenced performance goal, with a target performance of at least 25% better than baseline.
Results:
Hypothesis number one was supported. Participants performed better with a self-referenced performance goal vs an intrinsic goal across both tasks.
Hypothesis number two was not supported. Pre-performance anxiety was higher in the intrinsic goal session compared to the performance goal condition for the plank task, opposite of our hypothesis. There were no differences in pre-performance anxiety for the balance task.
Examination of the exploratory research question revealed that the main difference in direction of attentional focus for the plank task was more focus on goal or strategy during the performance goal session compared to the intrinsic goal session. The main difference in direction of attentional focus for the balance task was more worries, concerns, or anxiety during the performance goal session compared to the intrinsic goal session.
Conclusion:
Goals had a significant impact on both performance and direction of attentional focus. Performance goals resulted in better performance, more goal/strategy focus for the plank task and more worries, concerns, or anxiety for the balance task.