General Regulatory Focus Measure (GRFM)

Lockwood, P., Jordan, C. H., & Kunda, Z. (2002). Motivation by positive or negative role models: Regulatory focus determines who will best inspire us. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(4), 854-864. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.83.4.854


Table of Contents

Description

History of Use

References

Description:

Purpose
The GRFM was designed to assess individuals' orientations toward their goals. The GRFM differentiates between:
  • A prevention focus emphasizes avoiding undesirable outcomes, views goals as oughts, and is concerned with non-losses and losses. Someone with a prevention focus is especially sensitive to the difference between "0" and "-1" (maintenance) and prefers a vigilant strategy.
  • A promotion focus emphasizes pursuing desirable outcomes, views goals as ideals, and is concerned with gains and non-gains. Someone with a promotion focus is especially sensitive to the difference between "0" and "+1" (attainment) and prefers an eager strategy.
Questions
18 items using 9-point scales (1 = not at all true of me to 9 = very true of me)
Sub-scales
2 sub-scales:
  • Prevention
  • Promotion
Domain

Psychometrics

Sample items
  • In general, I am focused on preventing negative events in my life. (Prevention)
  • I frequently imagine how I will achieve my hopes and aspirations. (Promotion)

References:

Scale:
Lockwood, P., Jordan, C. H., & Kunda, Z. (2002). Motivation by positive or negative role models: Regulatory focus determines who will best inspire us. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(4), 854-864. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.83.4.854

For a discussion of measures of regulatory focus:
Summerville, A., & Roese, N. J. (2008). Self-report measures of individual differences in regulatory focus: A cautionary note. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1), 247-254. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2007.05.005


Selected Uses:

  • Lockwood, P., Sadler, P., Fyman, K., & Tuck, S. (2004). To do or not to do: Using positive and negative role models to harness motivation. Social Cognition, 22(4), 422-450. doi: 10.1521/soco.22.4.422.38297
  • Kim, Y. J. (2006). The role of regulatory focus in message framing in antismoking advertisements for adolescents. Journal of Advertising, 35(1), 143-151. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367350109
  • Sengupta, J., & Zhou, R. R. (2007). Understanding impulsive eaters choice behaviors: The motivational influences of regulatory focus. Journal of Marketing Research, 44(2), 297-308. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.44.2.297



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