Personal project analysis : opportunities and implications for multiple goal assessment, theoretical integration, and behaviour change

Abstract

Much of our behaviour acts in service of pursuing our goals (Carver & Scheier, 1998). However, research into goal pursuit has mostly focused upon the study of single isolated health goals and behaviours. As Gebhardt (this issue) discusses, life is more complex; people pursue multiple goals via numerous behaviours (health related and not), which all potentially compete for limited resources. Further investigation is needed using multiple goal approaches that account for this complexity. This thought piece describes a comprehensive unit of analysis and an associated methodological framework for conducting research on multiple goals, and provides suggestions for its potential application in health psychology.