News Finding: Setting and meeting larger goals is no different.
Paper Finding: Overall, productivity for subjects high in need for achievement was not higher than that for subjects low in need for achievement.
News Context: If you wanted to get better at tennis, you would probably hire an instructor who would help you improve your serve or backhand volley. Setting and meeting larger goals is no different. When you have that much clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.
Paper Context: Conversely, low need achievers (who are perhaps less confident) perform best when they are allowed to participate in the setting of their goals. Overall, productivity for subjects high in need for achievement was not higher than that for subjects low in need for achievement. However, an interaction occurred between work load and need for achievement.