Discuss the below:
In the article, "Setting, Elaborating, and Reflecting on Personal Goals Improves Academic Performance" Morisano, Hirsh, Peterson, Pihl and Shore (2010) discuss the findings in the importance of goal-setting programs and how effective they are in enhancing the academic performance for undergraduate students who are struggling at school. The hypothesis in the study compares two groups of goal-setting and control based programs and shows that the goal group has more benefits than the control group
The reason students have a difficulty adjusting in their first university year coming from high school, may be contributed to not having an idea what their goals are, limited interest due to lack of motivation, and financial and relationship problems that may occur during a student's university life and therefore, they decrease their academic performance. In the study, the authors evaluated students who were recruited and placed into categories of control and goal. The measurements of the study conducted struggling students with low GPAs. The criteria of participants are full-time, on academic probation, and struggling students. According to the article, there were not significant differences in the material used. However, eight students in the controlled group dropped classes. As a result of the research, the goal-setting group indicated three critical and beneficial outcomes. Students' GPA improved which is the purpose of this study. Also, participants in the goal group completed the evaluation on full-time studies.
The authors illustrated that goal-setting programs have positive effects on underachieving students. However, the test might be broader in its result since it only focuses on 4 year programs. Further investigation in other programs such as college diplomas or master's degrees can have different and more specific outcomes.