Goal-setting theory proposes that performance improves when goals are

Goal-setting theory proposes that performance improves when goals are

• A. Goals do not influence performance.
• B. Specific, challenging goals and feedback improve performance.
• C. Any goal improves performance equally regardless of difficulty.
• D. Only time spent studying affects performance.

Answer: (B)

Goal-setting theory shows that performance rises when you set clear, challenging targets and receive feedback. When goals are specific, they direct attention, guide effort, and help you persist, because you know exactly what you’re aiming for. Adding a challenging level makes you stretch your abilities and engage better strategies, not just work harder. Feedback completes the loop by showing how you’re doing and what to adjust, so you can fine-tune your approach and stay motivated toward the target. Together, specificity, challenge, and feedback create the conditions for higher performance. That’s why vague or easy goals don’t produce the same gains, and simply spending more time studying isn’t enough without clear targets and feedback to steer that time.

Goal-setting theory shows that performance rises when you set clear, challenging targets and receive feedback. When goals are specific, they direct attention, guide effort, and help you persist, because you know exactly what you’re aiming for. Adding a challenging level makes you stretch your abilities and engage better strategies, not just work harder. Feedback completes the loop by showing how you’re doing and what to adjust, so you can fine-tune your approach and stay motivated toward the target. Together, specificity, challenge, and feedback create the conditions for higher performance.

That’s why vague or easy goals don’t produce the same gains, and simply spending more time studying isn’t enough without clear targets and feedback to steer that time.