Within-Person Variability in Goal Content and Goal Frame: Amount,Patterns, Antecedents,and Consequences of Variation in Goal Orientation Over Time

Several studies have examined goal fluctuation over time, focusing on variability in goal level. This study investigated within-person variation in goal content and goal frame. Drawing from Motivated Action Theory (DeShon & Gillespie, 2005 DeShon, R. P. and Gillespie, J. Z. 2005. A motivated action theory account of goal orientation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90: 1096–1127. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) we examined variability in goal orientation over time in terms of amount, patterns, antecedents, and consequences. Participants completed a dispositional goal orientation measure and then daily surveys assessing perceptions, behavior, and goal orientation prior to a single performance episode. Results indicated there was substantial within-person variability, there were patterns in this variability involving goal-related behaviors and dispositional goal orientation, and certain patterns predicted exam performance. These findings suggest it may be useful to focus on not only goal level but also goal content and goal frames in future goal regulation research.