Test of the mediating role of goals in the incentive-performance relationship

Abstract

The mediating role of goal setting in the relationship between incentives and performance was investigated by specifically testing the effect on monetary incentives on subjects' personal goal level and commitment to an assigned goal. Subjects performed a computer-card sorting task for a 20-min practice trial and a 20-min experimental trial. In the experimental trial, they worked under 1 of 3 monetary incentive conditions (piece rate, hourly rate, and goal-attainment bonus). Incentives were unrelated to performance but did affect personal goal level and commitment to an assigned goal. These latter two variables were both strongly related to performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)