A regulatory focus perspective on performance goals' effects on achievement: A small-scale meta-analytical approach

Abstract

Consistently across meta-analyses, performance-approach goal endorsement predicts achievement positively and performance-avoidance goal predicts it negatively. However, achievement goal research has not fully examined whether these effects depend on individuals' regulatory focus. In this article we present small-scale meta-analyses conducted on six studies (Ntotal = 749) demonstrating a fit effect between performance goals (approach and avoidance) and situational regulatory focus (promotion and prevention). Specifically, we show that performance-approach goals exert a more positive impact on achievement when pursued along with promotion rather than prevention focus. We also show that performance-avoidance goals exert a less detrimental effect on achievement when pursued along with prevention rather than promotion focus. We discuss some theoretical implications of these findings for achievement goal theory and make an emphasis on its possible contextual and cultural dependence.