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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

When goals collide: monitoring the goals of multiple characters.

Most story plots contain multiple characters who are independent, interact, and often have conflicting goals. One would expect that narrative understanding would require monitoring of the goals, concerns, and situations of multiple agents. There is considerable evidence that understanders monitor the primary protagonist's goal plans (e.g., Suh & Trabasso, 1993). However, there is relatively little research on the extent to which understanders monitor the goals of multiple agents. We investigated the impact of characters' roles and prominence on the extent to which understanders monitor the goal plans of multiple characters in a feature length film. In Experiment 1, participants made situation change judgments, and in Experiment 2, they verbally described scenes. Both types of judgments indicated that viewers monitor the goals and plans of multiple agents but do so to a greater extent for characters more prominent to the plotline.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Self-regulation of goal setting: turning free fantasies about the future into binding goals.

Fantasy realization theory states that when people contrast their fantasies about a desired future with reflections on present reality, a necessity to act is induced that leads to the activation and use of relevant expectations. Strong goal commitment arises in light of favorable expectations, and weak goal commitment arises in light of unfavorable expectations. To the contrary, when people only fantasize about a desired future or only reflect on present reality, expectancy-independent moderate goal commitment emerges. Four experiments pertaining to various life domains supported these hypotheses. Strength of goal commitment was assessed in cognitive (e.g., making plans), affective (e.g., felt attachment), and behavioral terms (e.g., effort expenditure, quality of performance). Implications for theories on goal setting and goal striving are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Adaptation of teams in response to unforeseen change: effects of goal difficulty and team composition in terms of cognitive ability and goal orientation.

Halfway through a 3-hour experiment in which 64 3-person teams needed to make a series of decisions, a communications channel began to deteriorate, and teams needed to adapt their system of roles in order to perform effectively. Consistent with previous research, team composition with respect to members' cognitive ability was positively associated with adaptation. Adaptation was also influenced by interactions of team goal difficulty and team composition with respect to team members' goal orientation. Teams with difficult goals and staffed with high-performance orientation members were especially unlikely to adapt. Teams with difficult goals and staffed with high-learning orientation members were especially likely to adapt. Supplemental analyses provided insight into the observed effects in that the difficulty of team goals and members' goal orientation predicted interpersonal, transition, and action processes, all of which predicted team adaptation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

The impact of individual efficacy beliefs on group goal selection and group goal commitment.

Collective efficacy research has begun to progress from simply trying to verify the relationship between collective efficacy and performance to examining the mechanisms through which collective efficacy impacts on performance. To test hypotheses concerning the impact of collective efficacy on group goal selection and commitment, 24 participants were assigned to triads (consisting of the participant and two confederates) and performed two time-trials on cycle ergometers. Before each trial, the participants were asked to select both a finishing time and position goal for their group and to indicate their commitment towards these goals. After trial 1, the participants were assigned to either a high or low collective efficacy condition and received appropriate bogus performance feedback. Analysis of variance and post-hoc tests revealed that participants in the low collective efficacy group significantly reduced both finishing time and group position goals from trial 1 to trial 2, whereas participants in the high collective efficacy group maintained their goals. These results provide support for Bandura's suggestions concerning the mechanisms through which collective efficacy impacts upon performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Managing life through personal goals: intergoal facilitation and intensity of goal pursuit in younger and older adulthood.

Two studies varying in design (cross-sectional and longitudinal) and methods (questionnaires, diaries, and objective information) support the notion that personal goals are among the phenomena that show positive development throughout adulthood: Older adults (M = 64 years) reported more mutual facilitation among their personal goals and were more engaged in goal pursuit than were younger adults (M = 25 years). Results were robust when age-group differences in education and disposable time were controlled for, and they also emerged in a context where younger and older participants had one goal in common, namely, to start regular physical exercise. Mediational analyses showed that the older adults' higher intensity of goal pursuit was partly mediated by their higher level of intergoal facilitation.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Personal goals and psychological growth: testing an intervention to enhance goal attainment and personality integration.

We hypothesized that semester goal attainment provides a route to short-term psychological growth. In an attempt to enhance this process, we randomly assigned participants to either a goal-training program or to a control condition. Although there were no main effects of program participation on later goal attainment, important interactions were found. Consistent with a "prepared to benefit" model, participants already high in goal-based measures of personality integration perceived the program as most useful and benefited the most from the program in terms of goal attainment. As a result, they became even more integrated and also increased in their levels of psychosocial well-being and vitality. Implications for theories of short-term growth and positive change are discussed, as is the unanswered question of how to help less-integrated persons grow.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1993

[A survey of goals and the utilization of numerical goals in the health planning of 47 prefectures].

Health plans of 47 prefectural governments based on the Medical Law of 1985, were evaluated regarding four health planning factors: final goal, implementation plan, development of resources, and evaluation planning. Results of the evaluation showed that 8.5% of the 47 prefectures had defined future level of health based on numerical goals. On the other hand, all of the prefectures had developed numerical goals specifying the number of hospital beds in each medical district. A major component of health planning is improvement in the accomplishment of the implementation plan. There were 14 prefectures which had numerical goals for the upgrading of facilities and for manpower development to meet future health care activities. The following factors are required in the health planning to meet the needs for improving the health status of the population. 1) Including in the future health goals, in addition to the number of medical bed in regional areas, objective levels of health that should be attained. 2) Development of practical plans for evaluation of effectiveness of health planning.

Health Planning↗

PubMed1996

The influences of goal-related actions and reward information on children's and adults' perceptions of effort expenditure and goal desire.

An action perception approach (i.e., Heider, 1958) was used to investigate the influences of qualitatively different goal-related actions on 2nd- and 5th-grade children's and college students' perceptions of actors' effort expenditure (i.e., trying) and goal desire (i.e., wanting). Actors performed three repetitive actions or three equifinal actions within 2 reward conditions (offer of reward or no reward, for attempting to attain a prosocial goal). At each age level, perceptions of effort and want varied significantly by goal-related actions, whereas reward information did not emerge as an influential factor in differentiating perceptions of effort and want. Age-related findings suggested that, compared with the college students, the children overattributed trying and wanting to the actors. In the repetitive-actions condition, both 2nd and 5th graders gave significantly higher effort and want ratings than college students did. In the equifinal-actions condition, 2nd and 5th graders gave significantly higher effort ratings than college students did.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

The efficacy of atorvastatin in treating patients with hypercholesterolaemia to target LDL-cholesterol goals: the LIPI-GOAL trial.

OBJECTIVE: LIPI-GOAL is a multicentre, open-label, non-comparative treat-to-target study, conducted from March 1998 to May 1999, that assessed the percentage of patients reaching 1992 European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets with atorvastatin 10-80 mg/day in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia, defined as LDL-C > 160 mg/dl after a 12-week step I diet. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were treated towards the following LDL-C goals: < 135 mg/dl in patients with atherosclerotic disease present and/or coronary heart disease (CHD) risk >40%/10 years, or LDL-C < 155 mg/dl in all others. All subjects started treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg/day for 6 weeks. The dose was doubled every 6 weeks, to 20, 40, or 80 mg/day at weeks 12, 18, and 24, respectively, if targets were not reached. Of 587 patients screened for participation, 473 were enrolled and 419 (59% male; mean age 61 years) were available for efficacy evaluation. Fifty-five percent had atherosclerotic disease and/or CHD risk >40%/10 years. Dose titration was not needed in 303 patients (72%) who reached LDL-C target with atorvastatin 10 mg/day. Among 116 patients who were subsequently treated with higher atorvastatin dosages, 47 reached LDL-C target with 20 mg/day, 15 with 40 mg/day, and 6 with 80 mg/day. Therefore, 88.5% of subjects reached LDL-C goal in an intention-to-treat analysis. In general, atorvastatin was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients at high risk for CHD reached LDL-C goals with atorvastatin 10-80 mg/day. Seventy-two % of patients reached target with atorvastatin 10 mg/day, which may simplify clinical management and should encourage better adherence to recommendations.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Effects of Training Goals and Goal Orientation Traits on Multidimensional Training Outcomes and Performance Adaptability.

This research examined the effects of mastery vs. performance training goals and learning and performance goal orientation traits on multidimensional outcomes of training. Training outcomes included declarative knowledge, knowledge structure coherence, training performance, and self-efficacy. We also examined the unique impact of the training outcomes on performance adaptability by predicting generalization to a more difficult and complex version of the task. The experiment involved 60 trainees learning a complex computer simulation over 2 days. The research model posited independent effects for training goals relative to goal orientation traits and independent contributions of training outcomes to the performance adaptability of trainees. The findings were consistent with the proposed model. In particular, self-efficacy and knowledge structure coherence made unique contributions to the prediction of performance adaptability after controlling for prior training performance and declarative knowledge. Implications and extensions are discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Goal-oriented, model-based drug regimens: setting individualized goals for each patient.

Serum drug concentrations have commonly been described in terms of therapeutic ranges within which most patients have a therapeutic effect and a low incidence of toxicity. However, truly individualized drug dosage regimens cannot be developed without first setting a specific individualized target goal, such as a target serum drug concentration, at a desired target time after the dose (usually at a peak or trough), for each patient. For example, it is well known that the dosage of digoxin, or of any drug with a narrow therapeutic range, should somehow be individualized. One can begin this process by considering each patient as an individual, with his/her own individual need for the drug. If the need is small, so is the upper acceptable risk of toxicity. This would lead to a gently regimen, adjusted to the patient's body weight and renal function, to best achieve that specific target goal. Alternatively, if previous therapy has not sufficed and a significant or urgent need exists, then a higher goal may justifiably be selected, a greater risk of toxicity accepted, and a dosage regimen developed to meet that greater need. After such an individualized target goal is chosen, it should be achieved as precisely as possible. After the regimen is given, serum levels need to be measured and an individualized, patient-specific pharmacokinetic model should be made. Without the model, with only the raw serum level data, one cannot perceive the important exchanges that occur between serum and nonserum compartments of the drug, and we lack the precision given by the combination of the assay and the model to evaluate properly, optimally, the patient's clinical sensitivity to the drug. These concepts have been discussed here for digoxin, but they are general and apply to all drugs. This approach has also been applied to therapy with aminoglycoside antibiotics, vancomycin, lidocaine, theophylline, antiviral agents, a variety of anesthetic agents, psychiatric drugs, and anticancer agents.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

PubMed1999

[Goals of epilepsy treatment--a multidimensional model. The description of goals as a basis for efficiency measurement].

Review of relevant literature suggests at least seven distinct goals of epilepsy treatment to exist: to reduce seizure frequency and severity, to improve function, to enhance quality of life, to promote coping, to improve external circumstances, to prevent premature death, and (in children) to promote growth and development. However, these goals are subject to certain qualifications. For example, seizure frequency and severity is not to be reduced under all conditions, but only when such reduction can be expected to have beneficial effects on quality of life or on life expectancy (the two ultimate goals). The different qualifications suggest that the proposed goals can not, and should not be considered in isolation, but incorporated in a multidimensional model.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1998

Approach and avoidance strength during goal attainment: regulatory focus and the "goal looms larger" effect.

Three studies tested the hypothesis that regulatory focus, both as a chronic person variable and as a manipulated situational variable, differentially affects the strength of participants' approach and avoidance strategic motivations as they get closer to the goal. In 2 studies, flexion and extension arm pressure were used as on-line measures of approach and avoidance intensity, respectively. As predicted, the approach gradient was steeper for participants with a promotion focus on aspirations and gains than for participants with a prevention focus on responsibilities and nonlosses, whereas the reverse was true for the avoidance gradient. In a third study, the same pattern of results was found on a persistence measure of motivational strength. Participants with a promotion focus worked longer on anagrams closer to the goal when they were approach means for goal attainment than when they were avoidance means, whereas the reverse was true for participants with a prevention focus.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Work conditions and employees' self-set goals: goal processes enhance prediction of psychological distress and well-being.

Although previous theory and research suggest that employee well-being should be predicted by work conditions (viz., Karasek and colleagues' job demands-control-social support [J-DCS] model), other factors are also likely to be important. In this study, the authors consider correlates of employee psychological distress and well-being using a goal-focused approach grounded in Ford's (1992) motivational systems theory. Specifically, work conditions and midlevel work goal processes (WGP) were examined in a questionnaire study of health care employees. Regarding predictions derived from the J-DCS model, the authors found full support for the iso-strain, partial support for the nonlinearity, and no support for the buffer hypothesis. Of importance, however, WGP (i.e., cognitions and emotions involved in the pursuit of self-set work goals) explained variance in job satisfaction, burnout, depression, and somatic complaints, over and above that of the J-DCS model. This suggests that investigation of WGP can enhance our understanding of employee psychological distress and well-being.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

A novel approach to assessing achievement goals in the context of the 2 x 2 framework: identifying distinct profiles of individuals with different dominant achievement goals.

In two studies, individuals' dominant achievement goals were assessed using a new, simple, and conceptually precise measure based on Elliot and McGregor's (2001) 2 x 2 framework. Next, the four groups were compared in terms of achievement-relevant variables, including need for achievement, perfectionism, perceived competence, interest, and graded performance. As expected, a very high percentage (approximately 85%) of people indicated they had a dominant achievement goal. Furthermore, the results suggest that individuals with different dominant achievement goals have clear, distinct profiles that can be characterized as positively valenced (mastery-approach), both positively and negatively valenced (performance-approach), negatively valenced (performance-avoidance), or neither positively nor negatively valenced (mastery-avoidance).

Achievement↗

PubMed2005

Goals and goal setting.

Once you decide upon your personal definition of what a high quality of life is, set goals accordingly to achieve that objective. This is accomplished by tracking the key performance indicators of your practice to gain a statistical backing, and then setting, documenting and achieving your goals through the concept of Goal Curves. In doing so, you reap benefits in not only your practice but also your personal life.

Efficiency, Organizational↗

PubMed2004

Spatial response properties of homing pigeon hippocampal neurons: correlations with goal locations, movement between goals, and environmental context in a radial-arm arena.

The amniote hippocampal formation plays an evolutionarily-conserved role in the neural representation of environmental space. However, species differences in spatial ecology nurture the expectation of species differences in how hippocampal neurons represent space. To determine the spatial response properties of homing pigeon ( Columba livia) HFneurons, we recorded from isolated units in birds freely navigating a radial arena in search of food present at four goal locations. Fifty of 76 neurons displayed firing rate variations that could be placed into three response categories. Location cells ( n=25) displayed higher firing rates at restricted locations in the arena space, often in proximity to goal locations. Path cells ( n=13) displayed higher firing rates as a pigeon moved between a subset of goal locations. Arena-off cells ( n=12) were more active when a pigeon was in a baseline holding space compared to inside the arena. Overall, reliability and coherence scores of the recorded neurons were lower compared to rat place cells. The differences in the spatial response profiles of pigeon hippocampal formation neurons, when compared to rats, provide a departure point for better understanding the relationship between spatial behavior and how hippocampal formation neurons participate in the representation of space.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1997

Spatial disorientation blocks reliable goal location on a plus maze but does not prevent goal location in the Morris maze.

Cue control in spatial learning was investigated in a plus maze and a Morris maze. Rats transported in opaque containers with prior rotation to a plus maze, but not a Morris maze, could not find a goal defined by external cues. Rats transported in clear containers without rotation found the goal in both mazes. In the Morris maze, goal location was readily relearned following cue removal by rats in clear containers but not by rats in the opaque/rotation group. B. L. McNaughton et al.'s (1996) theory that during spatial learning sensory information is bound to preconfigured internal maps in the hippocampus, whose metric is self-motion and whose orientation depends on input from an inertial based head direction system, may explain this study's findings.

Animals↗