consortiums

PROJECT 3

SELECTION AND CLASSIFICATION

Walter D. Davis
School of Business Administration,
University of Mississippi

Proposed Grant $77,299

Abstract:
This study will investigate the effects of individuals' dispositional goal orientation (performance and learning) on reactions to and performance in task environments that differ in complexity and feedback availability. The results of this research will provide insights into whether measures of these dispositional traits can serve as useful selection and placement devices. Use of

goal orientation in selection and placement decisions may result in a better "person-job fit", leading to higher levels of performance, satisfaction, and retention. Furthermore, this research will provide a better understanding of how the design of training programs, in terms of complexity and feedback, may ultimately affect the performance, satisfaction, and retention of trainees.

An experimental analysis will investigate the effects of goal orientation, feedback availability (no feedback, outcome feedback, outcome with process feedback) and task complexity (high versus low complexity) on task performance, task self-efficacy, task interest, and task satisfaction. The results of this research are expected to make a substantial contribution to basic research on how individual differences and person-situation interactions affect behavior in performance settings. Since individual differences often play a key role in self-regulatory processes (Herold & Fedor, 1998), a complete understanding of how task environments affect individual self-regulation must take into account characteristics of the individual. Thus, there is a need for more research that examines the potentially complex interactions between person and situation variables. Ultimately, this research should provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which various task environments are likely to affect individual performance.