Comparing purposelessness in walks against traditional goal-driven approach in overall efficiency and sentiment

• Main Author: Tan, Wei Jie
• Other Authors: Kee Ying Hwa
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology::Motivation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/79015
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Motivation is a key driver in humans, particularly the achievement aspect of motivation as humans are goal-driven by nature. However, emerging studies are stating that goal setting may not be as effective due to the negative side effects which are often neglected. Thus, inspiring this study on the research on purposelessness, against the traditional approach of goal setting. 60 participants, 28 males (M age = 24.61, SD = 2.62) and 32 females (M age = 24.61, SD = 2.62), were recruited for the study. They were required to be free of any upper and lower limb injury. A $10 voucher was given to the participants at the start of the experiment. The study followed a guideline given by the university was given permission. The results of the control group (purpose-driven) showed a significant difference as compared to the experimental group. They had a greater mean walking speed (M speed = 0.937 m/s) and took less time per lap at (M lap =19.793s) as compared to the experimental group and (M speed = 0.826 m/s, M lap = 22.370s). The p-values are 0.02812 and 0.03529 respectively. There is also a difference in mean sentiment at 0.1195 and 0.0154 for the 2 groups, with a p-value of 0.005847. Thus, being purpose-driven did show a greater level of efficiency and positivity in the participants.