The impact of goal progress velocity on effect while pursuing multiple sequential goals

Goal progress velocity can impact by shaping the expectations about the amount of time that is available for the next task. Fast progress doesn’t always result in positive affect; it only does when the next task is expected to be rewarding.

Intensive psychological research has successfully identified velocity that is the rate of the goal progress as an independent determinant of individuals’ affective experiences in the process of goal pursuit. To be more specific, people view rapid progress as pleasant, while they perceive slow progress as unpleasant. Previous research focused on situations where individuals are uncertain about achieving their goals, rather than guaranteed success. This is problematic as many simple, routine tasks leave little doubt about completing them within the allotted time.

The University of Waterloo psychologists investigate whether goal velocity affects outcomes when success is guaranteed in various situations. And if it is so, then why?

To address these questions, psychologists conducted two experimental studies. The first study involved 147 participants, while the second included 179 participants. In both studies, participants completed two simulated work tasks designed to ensure their success.

Goal Progress Velocity: How Fast Achievement Shapes Expectations and Emotional Impact

These tasks ensured positive outcomes, helping researchers examine how goal progress velocity affected participants’ experiences and emotions. Psychologists analyzed controlled responses to understand how varying goal achievement rates affect satisfaction and emotional responses in sequential tasks.

In both studies, the velocity of the current task resulted in greater expected time available (ETA) for the next task. ETA predicted happiness, but only when people expected the next task to be enjoyable (S1) or financially rewarding (S2). These studies show that velocity shapes expectations about the time available for the next task, influencing overall impact.

Recent studies suggest that fast goal progress velocity doesn’t always lead to positive affect. While rapid progress can be motivating, its impact on emotions is not universally positive. The key factor is the next task’s nature; if anticipated as pleasant, fast progress often leads to positive feelings.

However, if people perceive the upcoming task as challenging or unpleasant, they may not realize the benefits of rapid progress. This indicates that goal progress velocity’s emotional impact depends on the anticipated enjoyment or value of future tasks.