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Regulatory Focus Questionnaire (RFQ)

Regulatory Focus Questionnaire (RFQ) Test

In 3 minutes, learn whether you’re driven more by pursuing gains or avoiding losses. This 11 question check helps predict stress responses and tailor coaching, counseling, or research.

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Questions: 113 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

17,717 views

1,450 completions

1,199 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

21/25

Prevention Focus (PF)

Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by duties and avoiding negative outcomes through vigilance and risk prevention.

Low prevention focus

Moderate prevention focus

High prevention focus

5 – 12: Low prevention focus | 13 – 20: Moderate prevention focus | 21 – 25: High prevention focus

A score of 21 indicates a high prevention focus, suggesting you tend to approach goals as responsibilities and prioritize avoiding mistakes or losses.

example score

23/30

Promotion Focus (PF)

Promotion focus measures how strongly a person is oriented toward pursuing gains, growth, and positive outcomes through opportunity-seeking goals.

Low

Moderate

High

6 – 16: Low | 17 – 26: Moderate | 27 – 30: High

A score of 23 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally opportunity-oriented approach to goals with a balanced sensitivity to potential successes.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students choosing a path

44%OF USERS

Young people exploring career and study decisions take it to see whether they’re more driven by chasing opportunities or avoiding mistakes.

Coaching and counseling clients

33%OF USERS

People in coaching or psychological support use it to understand what motivates them and how they react under pressure.

Researchers and trainers

23%OF USERS

Lecturers, trainers, and study teams use it to quickly profile motivation styles in groups and tailor exercises or analyses.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
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Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

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Recommendations

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Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Focus on Prevention (FoP)

Average

11.9

Normal range

9.1 — 14.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Promotion Focus (PF)

Average

20.6

Normal range

16.8 — 24.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures a person’s typical motivational focus: pursuing gains and advancement versus avoiding losses and mistakes. Results indicate the relative strength of promotion focus and prevention focus.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

Completion time is about 3 minutes. The questionnaire includes 11 items.

What type of questions are asked?

Items ask about past experiences with success and failure and the usual response to goals and setbacks. Responses reflect preferred self-regulation strategies in everyday situations.

How should items be answered?

Select the response that best matches typical behavior rather than an ideal response. Answer all items using the first response that seems accurate.

How can the results be used?

Results can support planning for coaching, counseling, training, or research by identifying motivational tendencies. They may also help anticipate reactions under challenge and select suitable goal-framing strategies.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Regulatory Focus Questionnaire (RFQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

regulation focus motivation self-regulation

The measure assesses individual differences in motivational self-regulation and is designed to distinguish orientation toward pursuing gains versus preventing losses. The Regulatory Focus Questionnaire (RFQ) is a brief self-report instrument intended to characterize predominant regulatory strategies in everyday goal pursuit.

The questionnaire consists of 11 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Responses are used to derive indices reflecting promotion-focused and prevention-focused tendencies, which may inform case formulation, coaching or counseling goals, and research on motivation and decision-making.

In applied settings, the Regulatory Focus Questionnaire (RFQ) can support discussion of how clients approach goals, respond to success and setbacks, and select strategies under stress. Results should be interpreted in context with presenting concerns, collateral information, and other assessment data, rather than as a stand-alone diagnostic indicator.

Author: e-t-higgins

Literature: Carver, C. S., & White, T. L. Behavioral inhibition, behavioral activation, and affective responses to impending reward and punishment: The BIS/BAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1994.; Higgins, E. T., Friedman, R. S., Harlow, R. E., Idson, L. C., Ayduk, O. N., & Taylor, A. Achievement orientations from subjective histories of success: Promotion pride versus prevention pride. European Journal of Social Psychology. 2001.

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