Research paper
Gollwitzer PM, Sheeran P. Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. 2006;38:69-119. doi:10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38002-1
Why we cite it
Provides the definitive meta-analytic synthesis of the implementation intentions literature — 94 independent tests showing that if-then planning produces a medium-to-large effect (d = 0.65) on goal attainment across diverse domains, while articulating the two psychological mechanisms (cue accessibility, response automaticity) that explain why these simple plans are so effective at bridging the intention-behavior gap.