Reviewing Regulatory Focus Based on Four Regulatory Forms

Abstract

This study employs the four regulatory forms (goal pursuit, goal maintenance, negative escape, and active avoidance), to illuminate the heterogeneousness among regulatory focus measurements and activations. The first two studies consistently found that promotion focus involves goal pursuit orientation; however, prevention focus encompasses a goal maintenance and a negative escape orientation. The regulatory forms were then applied to regulatory fit research to investigate how the matches of regulatory forms determine the effect sizes of regulatory fit. By meta-analyses, the weak effect in one-third of regulatory fit studies, whose regulatory forms were mismatched or partially matched, decreased the overall fit effect and increased the heterogeneousness among regulatory fit studies. However, a strong and consistent regulatory fit effect was found in wellmatched of regulatory forms. By examining and extending regulatory forms to measurement, activation and regulatory fit studies, this paper offers further understanding of the mechanisms of regulatory focus.

Boosted by closure! Regulatory focus predicts motivation and task persistence in the aftermath of task‐unrelated goal closure

“…In addition, Studies 1 and 2 both used the same manipulation of regulatory focus. As experimental manipulations often only pertain to certain aspects of the theoretical concept to be operationalised (e.g., Chen & Bei, 2017), conceptual replications with different manipulations are vital to ensure that the concept is indeed grasped—the respective shortcomings of each method cancelling each other out by force of repetition (see Webb et al., 1966). In Study 3, we therefore turned to a different regulatory focus manipulation, which we describe below.…”

“…(e.g.,Chen & Bei, 2017), conceptual replications with different manipulations are vital to ensure that the concept is indeed grasped-the respective shortcomings of each method cancelling each other out byF I G U R E 2 Decision times (in ms) in the go/no-go lexical decision task as a function of focus and regulatory closure in Study 2. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.force of repetition (seeWebb et al, 1966).…”

Research online and purchase offline: The disruptive impact of consumers' online information on offline sales interaction

“…This is because prevention focus initiates cognitive control resources to avoid failure (Ståhl et al, 2012). Prevention focus entails a goal maintenance orientation, such as avoiding the absence of the desired reference (Chen & Bei, 2017). Making progress toward achieving goals enhances feelings of personal control (Lin et al, 2020; Thompson, 2002).…”

Applying regulatory fit theory and cultural values orientation to predict effectiveness of public service advertising appeals

“…Previous studies have found that reverse-worded items may cause a problem in measurement (Babin & Griffin, 1998;Wong et al, 2003). Two items not reversedworded were added based on the idea that prevention-focused people would tend to move away from danger or threats (Chen & Bei, 2017). In English, the two items would be "Growing up, I would act in ways to avoid getting into trouble" and "Compared to most people, I typically opt for safe choices."…”