Unique effects of setting goals on behavior change: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Goal setting is a common feature of behavior change interventions, but it is unclear when goal setting is optimally effective.The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate: (a) the unique effects of goal setting on behavior change, and (b) under what circumstances and for whom goal setting works best.Method: Four databases were searched for papers that assessed the unique effects of goal setting on behavior change using randomized controlled trials.141 papers were identified from which 384 effect sizes (N = 16,523) were extracted and analyzed.A moderator analysis of sample characteristics, intervention characteristics, inclusion of other behavior change techniques, study design and delivery, quality of study, outcome measures and behavior targeted was conducted. Unique Effects of Goal Setting on Behavior Change: Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisA goal is "the object or aim of an action" (Locke & Latham, 2002, p. 705) and goal setting is one of the fundamental techniques that public bodies and government agencies recommend to promote behavior change (e.g., NICE, 2014; NHBLI, 2000).Goal setting is considered to be a key element in helping individuals to regulate their own behavior and has been used in numerous fields