Goal Characteristics Questionnaire – Measuring Goals That Predict Motivation and Well-Being

Abstract: A person’s motivation to pursue a goal depends on its characteristics, such as specificity, attainability, and usefulness. However, research has been constrained by the limited availability of comprehensive, psychometrically evaluated, and context-independent instruments. Therefore, we developed the Goal Characteristics Questionnaire (GCQ), a self-report measure assessing 32 goal characteristics across six subscales: Specificity and Connectedness, Framing, Attainability, Resource Availability, and Usefulness. Hypothesized factor structures were refined in two cross-sectional online studies by comparing it with data-driven solutions using confirmatory factor analyses. Across all resulting subscales, factors showed adequate reliability and measurement invariance across progress level, time perspective, and difficulty. Evidence of validity was assessed through associations with related measures such as the Personal Project Analysis (PPA), motivation, commitment, affect, and well-being. The questionnaire demonstrated incremental predictive validity for commitment and well-being when compared to the PPA. This instrument offers a practical tool to guide research on motivation, emotion, and well-being.