PSY2001 SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 3 PART 2

Question 1

outline control theory of monitoring goal progress (Carver & Scheier, 1990)

Answer 1

periodically noting qualities of goal-related behaviour or its outcomes and comparing these perceptions with salient reference values

Question 2

outline how people act like feedback loop for monitoring goal progress (is part of control theory)

Answer 2

constantly monitor change, see if act on motivation to achieve goal
set reference points, keep track of our position and take actions to achieve our goal

Question 3

how does control theory suggest we assess if we’re on track to achieve goal

Answer 3

set smaller intermediate goal
monitoring proxys for outcomes
comparisons

Question 4

why does control theory suggest that monitoring goal progress is crucial for effective goal striving and promoting goal attianments

Answer 4

1. ostrich problem- avoiding info on goal progress
2. progress monitoring impacts on goal attainment (d=0.4) comparable for that with reported goal intention

Question 5

outline 4 key parts of effective goal striving

Answer 5

1. decide upon appropriate goal
2. compare ongoing behaviour/current status of outcome to goal to identify disrepancy
3. decide how best to allocate effort
4. when to exercise restraint/initiate corrective action

Question 6

why does making progress monitoring public aid goal attainment

Answer 6

increase effort, public commitment, personal accountability, presented concerns, experimenter demand

Question 7

why does physical recording aid goal progress

Answer 7

increases likelihood of remembering and strengthen encoding of info, facilitate retrieval
hard to ignore, reduces scope for self-deception and feel more committed

Question 8

outline Polivy et al (1986) 1st study

Answer 8

ppts were restrained eaters, preload on high-fat milkshake then given chocolates and told to eat as many as needed for evaluating
either leave wrapper on table, in bin which already had some wrappers in
harder for ppt to monitor consumption when in bin
ate more when not subject to public attention (wrappers in bin)

Question 9

are people with strong intentions more likely to monitor progress? (De Bruin, 2012) outline this study, and results

Answer 9

intention- intending to exercise 30min 2 days per week in next 6 week
monitoring goal progress- pay attention to if reach goal
responding to discrepancy- if don’t exercise, will try to catch up
correlation between intention, self-regulatory processes r=0.59
when strong intentions to achieve = more likely to keep track

Question 10

is monitoring progress associated with goal achievement

Answer 10

greater intention impacts extent to which people respond to discrepancies (self-regulatory processes, monitoring progress and responding to discrepancies), but find discrepancy aversive so change goal
TOTE model

Question 11

what is TOTE model

Answer 11

Test Operate Test Exit model

Question 12

outline Harkin + Webb (2016) meta-analysis for important health behaviours, monitoring goal progress

Answer 12

included managing weight, physical activity, monitoring blood glucose
prompted ppts to use written diary, website, phone
monitoring progress helped to identify discrepancies and decide how to allocate effort, exercise restraint, or initiate corrective action

Question 13

why do interventions have such a big effect on frequency with which people monitored their goal progress?

Answer 13

• rarely actually monitor “put head in sand”
• set goal too high, so is aversive and are motivated to avoid feedback
• instead should set period of time to work on goal before monitoring progress
• monitoring often is unpleasant

Question 14

how do diabetics show that monitoring progress is unpleasant

Answer 14

16% did not take prescription for monitoring strip, only 20% took enough for daily tests

Question 15

does it matter how people monitor their progress

Answer 15

monitor behaviour/outcome = no difference. importance is on what goal is that your trying to achieve

Question 16

what is goal systems perspective

Answer 16

if goal is to see effect on behaviour= monitor behaviour
if goal is to see effect on outcomes= monitor outcomes
can also monitor reference values = comparison to desired target, past, other

Question 17

why is recording info more effective

Answer 17

notice small change to raise motivation= more visible longitudinal trend
hold accountability
increase reflection
harder to ignore ostrich problem

Question 18

when does issue of third-variable problem arise, and how can this be dealt with

Answer 18

arise from correlational test, so solve via random allocation, generating significant difference in intention scores between groups, followed up behaviour

Question 19

what does a medium-large change in intention cause

Answer 19

small-medium change in behaviour, so intention has significant impact on behaviours but effect size considerably smaller than correlational tests suggest

Question 20

discuss using self-report in studies

Answer 20

larger behavioural effect size when using objective not self-report measures, but self-report can reflect actual behaviour and so can be reliable/valid

Question 21

what factors explain direct effects of interventions on behaviour

Answer 21

1. intervention increase PBC and variables have direct effect on behaviour (suggested by TPB, protection motivation theory, social-cognitive theory) but not supported by mediation analysis
2. intervention affected behaviour by route not involving intention/PBC, like activate behaviour-relevant goal outside of ppt conscious awareness, intiiates behaivours automatically

Question 22

why does intention not have greater impact on behaviour

Answer 22

1. behaviours performed frequently in stable context impacted less by intereventions
2. prototype-willingness model suggests health-risk behaviours more determined by willingness to engage (social reaction route) than behavioural intention (reasoned action route)
3. measures of behavioural expectation similar effect on behaviour as measure of behavioural intention

Question 23

what are characteristics of interventions that successfully change intentions and behaviour

Answer 23

1. strong relationships between effect size for intention, and that for behaviour, indicate interventions causing greater change for intention also produce greater behavioural impacts
2. intervention more likely to be successful in generating intention and behaviour change if treatment based on PMT/TRA/TPB and uses social encouragement, incentives

Question 24

define goals

Answer 24

mental representations of desired outcomes

Question 25

define goal intentions

Answer 25

self-instructions to act toward those outcomes (encaptures both nature of set goal and how committed one is to attaining it)