1. Goal setting
What is it?
Setting targets to achieve and therefore enhance performance.
“Goal setting is what an individual is trying to accomplish. It is the object or aim of an action” (Lock 1981)
How can these goals differ?
Depends on ability, activity, recreation/sport, what you want/need to achieve.
Outcome or performance orientated

2. How does goal setting help the performer?
Attention: goal setting help’s to direct a performer’s attention (focus) to the important aspects of the task.
Effort: goal setting helps to mobilise or increase the appropriate degree of effort a performer needs to make in relation to a specific task.
Persistence: goal setting helps maintain efforts over time.
New strategies: goal setting helps a performer develop new and various strategies in order to achieve their goals e.g. learning (problem solving).

3. Goal Orientation Performance orientated
Levels of success are judged in terms of mastering new skills or beating personal bests. (self referent)
Has been shown to reduce anxiety in competitive situations. Why?
Performance orientated individuals tend to attribute internal and controllable factors e.g. effort
What matters for them is raising their levels of perceived ability by learning new skills

4. Outcome Goals Outcome (success) orientated.
Generally focus on the result/end product.
Performers who make comparisons of themselves with others are said to be outcome orientated.
What are the benefits and problems associated with this?

5. Goal Characteristics Specific Measurable Accepted Realistic Timed
Exciting
Recorded

6. Other factors Goal difficulty Long and short term
Goal acceptance and commitment
Goal evaluation (goal achievement strategies)