Goal Setting

Element · All elements
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 2 studies (1 review, 1 theoretical), q1–q2 · 0 of 2 report an effect size

Description

Goal setting is the element in which learners or instructors establish clear targets for performance, progress, or improvement. It is useful when visible goals help focus effort, strategy choice, and persistence.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Specific targets
• Criteria or indicators for progress

Constraints

• Vague or unrealistic goals reduce usefulness

Target Learning Goals

• Focus effort, guide monitoring, and support persistence.

Affordances

• Goal Setting & Monitoring
• Self-Regulation

Claims

• Specific, difficult goals lead to higher performance than easy or vague \"do your best\" goals. [+W]

Related Elements

• Learning Outcomes
• Self-Assessment
• SMARTER Goals

Patterns That Use This Element

• Self-Regulated Learning
• Mastery Learning

Examples

• Learners set a process goal before practice and review it after feedback.

Key Sources

• Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705-717. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	element
id	goal-setting
title	Goal Setting
description	Goal setting is the element in which learners or instructors establish clear targets for performance, progress, or improvement.
status	review
canonical	True
generated	by codex/unspecified on 2026-04-08
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — locke-2002

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