Individual differences in reactions to goal-performance discrepancies over time

Substantial research has examined self-regulatory processes across individuals (e.g., Locke & Latham, 1990) and several recent studies have explored these processes within individuals across time (e.g., Donovan and Williams, 2003 and Ilies and Judge, 2005). The current study combined these perspectives, investigating individual differences in reactions to goal-performance discrepancies over time. Specifically, this research examined the moderating effects of individual differences in achievement-related beliefs (locus of control and general self-efficacy) and motivation (conscientiousness) on goal- and effort-related responses to goal-performance discrepancies. University students (N = 90) first completed online measures of these personality characteristics, and then responded to questionnaires assessing goals, effort, and performance for an undergraduate class over the course of a semester. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated that the reactions to goal-performance discrepancies observed in prior studies were influenced by these personality characteristics, leading to different patterns of self-regulation over time.