Individual Differences in the Variability of Goal Dimensions: A Generalization of Kiendl et al. (2025)

Establishing the generalizability of empirical findings is essential for a cumulative science. Kiendl, Wenzel et al. (2025) recently examined sources of variability in goal dimensions, as well as three different ways of calculating variability and the specific personality traits (conscientiousness, neuroticism, and trait self-control) that predict them. We replicate their analyses on two independent datasets with different populations (Canadian university students, N = 401; working adults, N = 343), timeframes (biweekly vs. monthly assessments), number of goals (2–3), and goal dimensions. Across all studies, person-level variance was consistently lowest—goal dimensions vary more across goals and time than across individuals. Results were more similar than different when comparing similar dimensions across studies on variability indices, with notable exceptions. Results for personality predictors (conscientiousness, neuroticism, and trait self-control) of variability somewhat diverged; whereas Kiendl et al. found all examined traits to be predictive of two variability indices each, we found less robust relationships (trait self-control predicted dispersion and instability in study 1; neuroticism predicted dispersion in study 2). These discrepancies may reflect methodological differences including assessment frequency and the specific dimensions measured. Our findings corroborate past research in pointing to the importance of considering person, goal, and time levels in goal research.