Academic Goal Setting: Definition and
Conceptual Background
A person’s ability to set, prioritize and
monitor progress towards appropriate and realistic short-(proximal)
and longterm (distal) academic goals that serve to direct
attention,effort, energy, and persistence toward goal-relevant
activities (and away from goal-irrelevant
activities).
Goal setting is the ability to set, prioritize
and monitor progress towards appropriate and realistic short-term
(proximal) and long-term (distal) goals that serve to direct
attention, effort, energy, and persistence toward goal-relevant
activities (and away from goal- irrelevant activities) (Locke
& Latham, 2002). Goals (e.g., academic goals) are the
object or aim of an action or behavior and typically include a
specified time limit and standard of proficiency. The act of
setting goals is based on the assumption, supported by
approximately 4 decades of research, that conscious goals will
affect action or behavior (Locke & Latham, 2002).
According to goal- setting theory, goal-setting facilitates higher
levels of academic performance via: (a) direction of
attention and efforts toward goal- relevant activities; (b)
energizing effort; (c) increasing persistence and
more sustained effort; and (d) indirectly leading to the discovery
and use of task-relevant strategies (Locke & Latham,
2002).
