In goal-setting theory, besides goal specificity and feedback, which factor influences its effectiveness?

• A. Task complexity
• B. Lighting in the office
• C. Dietary preferences
• D. Commute time

Answer: (A)

Task complexity acts as a moderator of how well goal setting works. When goals are specific and feedback is provided, performance tends to improve, especially on straightforward tasks. But as tasks become more complex, simply having specific goals and feedback isn’t always enough. Complex tasks require additional structuring—breaking work into smaller subgoals, providing more guidance, and maintaining frequent, detailed feedback—so people can plan, monitor, and adjust their actions. In short, the difficulty of the task influences how effectively specific goals and feedback translate into improved performance.

Other options don’t play the same moderating role in this theory. Lighting, dietary preferences, and commute time can affect motivation or well-being, but they aren’t the factors that determine how goal specificity and feedback impact performance across tasks of varying complexity.