oa Groeien of handhaven? De effecten van taakgerichte streef- en vermijddoelen op prestatie en taakinteresse in de context van een assessment center

Grow or maintain? The effects of task referenced target or avoidance goals on performance and task interest in the context of an assessment centre

Jacob Nauta, Nico. W. Van Yperen & Alec W. Serlie, Gedrag & Organisatie, Volume 17, August 2004, nr. 4, pp. 227-241.

The effects of task referenced target goals or avoidance goals on performance and task interest were studied in the context of an assessment centre (AC). The sample (N = 171) consists of candidates for an individual assessment programme. Results confirm the anticipated positive effect of target goals on task interest that was entirely mediated by concerted intention. In addition, the anticipated negative effect of avoidance goals on task interest and perceived competence, mediated by cognitive fear of testing, were confirmed. Contrary to expectation no relationships were found between performance goals and actual performance (as assessed by a professional assessor). The results contribute to new knowledge in respect to recently introduced task referenced avoidance goals, replicate previously found effects of target goals in a new work related research setting and underline the imporance of the distinction between task referenced target and avoidance goals.