Präsenzveranstaltung zum Modul 3b

Content:

This one-day seminar in English highlights the relevance of research on goal representations and goal pursuit in motivation psychology, focusing on how we encounter and strive to achieve personal goals across different areas of life. Whether in health, education, or personal development, understanding the types of goals we set (spontaneously or in interventions) and how to pursue them is crucial, particularly in the context of online learning. This seminar is designed to offer a deep dive into the psychology of goal-setting, goal pursuit, and how to overcome the barriers that often prevent us from achieving our goals (e.g., Elliot et al., 1999; Kaftan & Freund, 2018). Goals are more than just milestones; they serve as a roadmap for regulating and evaluating our behaviors. But how can we maximize our chances of success? We’ll explore the difference between process goals (e.g., consistent studying throughout the semester) and outcome goals (e.g., passing the exam; Kaftan & Freund, 2019; Krause & Freund, 2016), and discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of having a backup plan. While backup plans can provide security, research suggests they may also reduce the likelihood of achieving the original goal (Napolitano & Freund, 2016; Shin & Milkman, 2016). In small group sessions, we will brainstorm and discuss potential empirical studies to understand how we as online students can set, pursue, and achieve our academic goals more effectively. Whether you’re struggling to balance academic studies with other life goals, or just curious about the science behind motivation, this seminar can provide practical tools and insights to help you navigate goal-related challenges and succeed in an online learning environment.

Methods:

Pre-Readings: To help get the most out of the upcoming one-day seminar, students have to review the following research articles: Elliot et al., 1999; Kaftan & Freund, 2018. Further readings also will help clarify and further consider the topic. These studies will provide foundational knowledge on key themes such as goal-setting, goal pursuit, and goal focus.

Discussion questions: To prepare for the interactive group activities during our one-day seminar, please take some time to reflect on the following discussion questions: What are some personal academic goals you have set for yourself this semester? How do you distinguish between process goals (e.g., regular studying) and outcome goals (e.g., passing a final exam)? Have you ever created a backup plan for a major academic or personal goal? Did it help you stay on track or did it reduce your motivation to achieve the original goal? What strategies do you currently use to stay focused on your goals, and how do you overcome distractions or procrastination in an online learning environment? In what ways do you think goal-setting in an online education context differs from traditional, in-person learning? What unique challenges or advantages do you face? What kind of support or tools do you think would help students achieve their academic goals more effectively in an online setting? Please consider these questions before the seminar, as they will form the basis of our discussions and help guide our exploration of goal-achievement strategies.

Written preparatory task: Based on reading research articles participants will complete a short written preparatory task (1-2 1/2 pages) and hand it in Moodle one week before the seminar. Thus, participants will develop, present, and discuss research proposals for research on goal setting during the seminar.

Instructions:

• After reading the research articles (Elliot et al., 1999; Kaftan & Freund, 2018) summarize the main findings related to goal pursuits and goal focus (process and outcome goals), and the possible role of backup plans. Highlight how these concepts are relevant to academic goal-setting in an online learning environment.
• Reflect on how these research findings apply to experience with academic goal-setting. Consider your goal settings—do you use process or outcome goals? Have you ever created a backup plan, and how did it affect your pursuit of the original goal?
• Based on articles, propose 1-2 research questions that could be explored in future studies on goal-setting, particularly in online education.

Submission Details:

• Length: 1- 2 1/2 pages (around 500-750 words).
• Deadline: Submit your completed task on Moodle one week before the seminar.
• Format: Please submit in PDF or Word format.

Literature:

• Elliot, A. J., McGregor, H. A., & Gable, S. (1999). Achievement goals, study strategies, and exam performance: A mediational analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91(3), 549–563. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.91.3.549
• Kaftan, O. J., & Freund, A. M. (2018). The way is the goal: The role of goal focus for successful goal pursuit and subjective well-being. In E. Diener, S. Oishi, & L. Tay (Eds.), Handbook of well-being. DEF Publishers. https://nobascholar.com.
• Kaftan, O. J., & Freund, A. M. (2019). A motivational perspective on academic procrastination: Goal focus affects how students perceive activities while procrastinating. Motivation Science, 5(2), 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000110
• Krause, K., & Freund, A. M. (2016). It’s in the means: Process focus helps against procrastination in the academic context. Motivation and Emotion, 40, 422–437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9541-2
• Hennecke, M., & Freund, A. M. (2014). Zielfokus, Prozessfokus und Ergebnisfokus [Goal focus, process focus, and outcome focus]. In M. A. Wirtz (Ed.), Dorsch: Lexikon der Psychologie (17th ed.; pp. 1825–1827). Hans Huber. https://dorsch.hogrefe.com/stichwort/zielfokus-prozessfokus-und-ergebnisfokus
• Napolitano, C. M., & Freund, A. M. (2016). On the use and usefulness of backup plans. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11,56-73. (3), 501-517. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615596991
• Shin, J., & Milkman, K. L. (2016). How backup plans can harm goal pursuit: The unexpected downside of being prepared for failure. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 135, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2016.04.003

Informationen:

Preparation will be organized via Moodle. Further information will be provided after acceptance to the seminar.

Target group:

The seminar is aimed at students in the BSc. Psychology program interested in the literature on goal representations and goal pursuit.