The Credibility of Goal Priming Research in Work and Organizational Psychology

Gary P. Latham

doi:10.18290/rpsych20233-2

Gary P. Latham Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5922-0321

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rpsych20233-2

Keywords: goal setting theory, primed/subconscious goals, exact and conceptual replications, organizational behavior

Abstract

Four criteria attest to the credibility of subconscious goal effects on organizational related behavior. First, the findings support hypotheses derived from goal setting theory. Second, the empirical experiments, conducted in both laboratory and field settings, have both internal and external/ecological validity. The dependent variables include brainstorming, negotiations, task/job performance, and satisfaction with customer service. Third, the results of these experiments have been shown to be robust with regard to exact and conceptual replications. Fourth, a meta-analysis has shown the practical as well as the theoretical significance of these findings. A goal primed in the subconscious and a consciously set goal have additive effects on job performance and negotiations.

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