Resting on laurels: the effects of discrete progress markers as subgoals on task performance and preferences.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
This article investigates the influence of progress certainty and discrete progress markers (DPMs) on performance and preferences. The authors suggest that the effects of DPMs depend on whether progress certainty is high or low. When the distance to the goal is uncertain, DPMs can help reduce uncertainty and thus improve performance and increase preference. However, when the distance to the goal is certain, DPMs may generate complacency, sway motivation away from the end goal, and decrease performance in the task, as well as its appeal. Therefore, the addition of more information, feedback, or progress indicators may not always improve task performance and preference for the task. The authors validate these claims in 4 experiments.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Amir, O; Ariely, D
Published Date
- September 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 34 / 5
Start / End Page
- 1158 - 1171
PubMed ID
- 18763898
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1939-1285
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0278-7393
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037/a0012857
Language
- eng