The Project
Our research aims to answer the question of how and why people choose whether or not to continue trying to accomplish difficult goals, as well as the outcomes that result from either abandoning or switching goals. Drawing from extensive bodies of work that have demonstrated roles for self determination and meta-cognitive strategies in facilitating goal achievement, the current research will test several of the key predictions made by the Tripartite Model of Goal Striving.
Practically, the project will also look to develop ways to improve people's goal striving effectiveness by using techniques that help individuals to decide early in their goal journeys if continuing to put effort into working towards their goal will result in success or a fruitless struggle.
Ultimately, in partnership with community stakeholders, the STAR Project aims to produce easy to implement, scientifically grounded, and low-cost interventions that will help individuals to effectively select, progress with, and attain their goals.
Practically, the project will also look to develop ways to improve people's goal striving effectiveness by using techniques that help individuals to decide early in their goal journeys if continuing to put effort into working towards their goal will result in success or a fruitless struggle.
Ultimately, in partnership with community stakeholders, the STAR Project aims to produce easy to implement, scientifically grounded, and low-cost interventions that will help individuals to effectively select, progress with, and attain their goals.
Research Goals
The overarching aim of this project is to answer the question: “Can people become strategic in their goal pursuits by deciding early in their goal striving whether to persist on a difficult goal or give up and strive for a compatible goal?”
Through a series of lab and field based studies will aim to test how we can help individuals to realize whether a goal is attainable or not, and whether this can support them in making the right decision (e.g. whether to persist with, abandon, or change the goal).
The goal of the STAR Project is to make novel contributions to theories of motivation and goal regulation. The project will also have significant public benefit, as it will provide the necessary evidence for the development of brief interventions that maximize the efficient use of individuals’ limited resources to help them achieve their goals and improve their well-being.
Through a series of lab and field based studies will aim to test how we can help individuals to realize whether a goal is attainable or not, and whether this can support them in making the right decision (e.g. whether to persist with, abandon, or change the goal).
The goal of the STAR Project is to make novel contributions to theories of motivation and goal regulation. The project will also have significant public benefit, as it will provide the necessary evidence for the development of brief interventions that maximize the efficient use of individuals’ limited resources to help them achieve their goals and improve their well-being.
Project Objectives:
- Study goal persistence with difficult but attainable goals
- Explore how to facilitate goal disengagement and goal re-engagement when faced with
unattainable goals - Advance basic knowledge, by providing empirical data, using a variety of methodologies, tasks, and samples, for a new conceptual model of goal motivation and goal regulation
- Provide innovative knowledge regarding strategic goal setting, which will have direct and indirect implications for the wider public in contexts where individuals engage in the pursuit of difficult or unattainable goals
- Work with key stakeholders to outline ways in which our methods can be implemented in the future (e.g., new mobile apps, online access to goal striving advice, intervention programs)
International Collaboration
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The STAR Project is an international research project involving researchers from Curtin University (AUS), The University of Western Australia (AUS), and The University of Southampton (UK).
The research is based primarily at Curtin University's Physical Activity and Well-Being research group. Learn more about the research team here |
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