Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) Practice Exam

Goal-setting theory is based on what premise?

1. People's intentions are a good predictor of their behaviour.

2. People's needs drive their motivation.

3. People's expectations about outcomes impact their motivation.

4. Positive feedback and rewards increase people's motivation.

The correct answer is: People's intentions are a good predictor of their behaviour.

Goal-setting theory centers around the premise that clearly defined goals can significantly impact performance by directing attention, mobilizing effort, fostering persistence, and encouraging the development of strategies to achieve those goals. The foundational idea is that specific and challenging goals lead to higher performance when individuals are committed to the goals. The key aspect of this theory is that people's intentions, specifically their commitment to achieving the set goals, serve as strong motivators for behavior. When individuals identify goals they desire to achieve, they adjust their actions accordingly in an effort to meet those objectives. In the context of the other choices, while needs, expectations, and the influence of feedback and rewards play important roles in motivation, they do not capture the essence of goal-setting theory as effectively. Needs relate more to the underlying drivers of motivation, expectations focus on anticipated outcomes, and positive feedback pertains to reinforcement rather than the goal-setting process itself. All of these factors can support goal achievement but do not directly address the concept that establishing specific goals can shape individuals' intentions and consequently their behaviors.