Goal setting and the adventure experience

Abstract

This research explores goal setting among the various participants of the Leeuwin adventure sail training program. Focus group and individual interviews conducted at different stages of a voyage with long-term unemployed young people (trainees), and staff from Leeuwin and the Department of Education, Employment and Training revealed that most participants set multiple goals, and that, of these, intrapersonal and interpersonal goals were most frequently stated. Goals tended to be vague rather than specific. As the voyage progressed, career-type goals assumed more importance among trainees. There was commonality in goal setting between the participating groups, and trainees rated as most successful during the voyage were found to increase the number of goals they set as the voyage progressed. This study demonstrates the power of setting specific and challenging goals.