THE EFFECTS OF GROUP VERSUS INDIVIDUAL GOAL-SETTING ON BOWLING PERFORMANCE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of group and indi vidual goal setting versus a control condition on bowling performance (BP), personal goals (PG), and perceived goal difficulty (PGD) across five weeks. Novice bowlers (N = 36) were randomly assigned to one of t he three goal conditions. Three separate 3 x 5 (Goal Condition X Time: Weeks of Study) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveal ed significant main effects for time on BP and PGD, and significant gr oup by time interaction effects on BP and PG. The significant group X time interaction effects revealed that participants in the group goal setting condition increased both BP and PG relatively more than partic ipants in the other goal setting conditions. Therefore, group goal set ting may enhance performance in an individual sport by potentially inc reasing personal goal setting under difficult performance demands.