Glossary
Goal setting (outcome)
What is Goal Setting (Outcome)?
Outcome goal setting means setting or agreeing on a target for a desired result of behavior. A target exam score or sales figure is an outcome goal. It gives you a destination, but does not specify the route.
Outcome Goals and Behavioral Goals
A student might aim to achieve a particular exam score. Completing practice exercises is a separate behavioral goal that could help the student work toward it. An intervention can include both, but they answer different questions: What result do you want? What will you do?
Why Outcome Goals Matter
An outcome goal keeps the desired result in view. That matters because it is possible to complete an activity without getting its intended benefit. Hours spent studying are not the same as material learned.
Results can also depend on factors beyond the person's actions. A goal can provide direction without guaranteeing success. Pairing it with behavioral goals may help organize the work, but the best arrangement depends on the task and the person.
The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy v1 identifies outcome goal setting as technique 1.3. It distinguishes the type of goal being set; it does not establish which combination of goals will work best.