A group of friends all share the same goal of earning an A on their final exam. Based on research on goal-setting, who is most likely to achieve this goal?

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In this scenario about goal-setting research, the emphasis is on how clearly defined goals and implementation plans predict better achievement.
Option 1: Mollie, who wants an A but only needs a B+ to get the A — this expresses a high-level desire without a concrete plan or commitment, which psychology shows is less predictive of actual performance because the goal isn’t aligned with actionable steps.
Option 2: Erin, who decides that when she gets home from class every day she will study for 30 minutes the 2 weeks leading up to the exam — this combines a specific, proximal goal with a concrete implementation intention (a precise time and duration), which research on goal-setting indicates is strongly associated with higher follow-through and success.
Option 3: Marissa, who wants to earn an A and keeps meaning to study but hasn’t found time — a verbal intention without commitment or structure tends to fail due to procrastination and lack of planning, making the outcome less likely.
Option 4: Jessica, who has been studying and keeps saying she “just wants to do good” — again, an intention without a precise plan or measurable target offers less predictive power for actual performance.
Overall, the most effective driver of reaching a specific grade, given the evidence from goal-setting literature, is the person who pairs a precise goal with a clear plan for when and how to act, which is exactly what Erin demonstrates with her 30-minute daily study commitment.

2261 PSY 0105 SEC1000 Exam 3- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

A group of friends all share the same goal of earning an A on their final exam. Based on research on goal-setting, who is most likely to achieve this goal?

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