Abstract

Studies of goal setting both in organization and in the laboratory have found that specific, difficult goals leads to better performance than vague or easy goals. This study extends the above findings by examining the effects of other goal attributes discussed in LOCKE and LATHAM (1984 a, b). In addition, the present study extends the goal setting concept to studying sports teams in order to examine the relation of goal setting, and self-efficacy to team or group level performance which have been infrequently studied to date. The mediating role of goal setting in the relation between self-efficacy and team performance was also explored. Results suggest that setting team goals, self-efficacy strength, low levels of conflict and stress, and low levels of coaches support, feedback and reward relate to female field hockey teams winning percentage. Goal setting attributes (goal specificity and difficulty) were found to mediate the relation of self-efficacy strength and teams winning percentage. Implications of this study were discussed. Verf.-Referat