2. Motivational Style

Is my motivational approach to promote or prevent for my mentees’ academics or social connection?

The Mindset(s)

Regulatory focus crosses two dimensions. The focus is what you are steering toward, and the goal is what you are hoping to attain.

  • Promotion: oriented toward gains, growth, and what your mentees could become.
    • Survey item: “Helping my mentees reach their full potential as researchers.”
  • Prevention: oriented toward safety, avoiding mistakes, and what could go wrong.
    • Survey item: “Preventing problems from derailing my mentees’ research.”
  • Academic referent: your team’s research project.
    • Survey item: “Helping my mentees make progress and grow in their research project.”
  • Social referent: belonging to the team and connections on campus.
    • Survey item: “Helping my mentees build a sense of belonging and connection on the team.”

Polarity: Promotion ↔︎ Prevention × Academic ↔︎ Social.

Measure: Mentoring Regulatory Focus Scale, 2×2 (adapted; Higgins, 1997; Lockwood, Jordan & Kunda, 2002). The stem is “As a peer mentor, how much will you emphasize each?” and you rate twelve items, three per cell, on a 1–7 emphasis scale (1 = No emphasis, 4 = Moderate, 7 = Very strong emphasis). Focus and referent are scored separately.

Find Your Score

Use your password to find your score(s).

2. Motivational Style: your 2×2 cell composites (1–7)
Password Promotion × Academic Promotion × Academic (%) Promotion × Social Promotion × Social (%) Prevention × Academic Prevention × Academic (%) Prevention × Social Prevention × Social (%) Promotion aim Prevention aim
AARYA0510 6.67 72% (high) 5.00 17% (low) 5.67 55% (mid) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
ABBYS4444 5.33 17% (low) 4.67 12% (low) 3.33 2% (low) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
APPLE4293 7.00 86% (high) 5.33 33% (low) 6.67 89% (high) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
ARIGA0622 6.67 72% (high) 6.33 72% (high) 6.00 77% (high) 6.67 81% (high) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
ARTEM1225 5.67 25% (low) 4.67 12% (low) 5.33 47% (mid) 5.00 23% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
ASOBI3022 6.00 44% (mid) 4.33 6% (low) 4.33 12% (low) 5.00 23% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
AVATG0607 6.33 58% (mid) 6.67 84% (high) 4.00 11% (low) 6.67 81% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
Aster2306 5.00 9% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Balanced Social-leaning
BEARS1223 5.33 17% (low) 5.33 33% (low) 5.33 47% (mid) 5.33 34% (mid) Balanced Balanced
BINGS1234 6.33 58% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) 5.00 30% (low) 6.33 73% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
BKNYC1616 7.00 86% (high) 7.00 89% (high) 7.00 94% (high) 7.00 89% (high) Balanced Balanced
BREES2018 6.33 58% (mid) 5.00 17% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 5.00 23% (low) Academic-leaning Balanced
BREIT3219 6.67 72% (high) 5.33 33% (low) 5.33 47% (mid) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
CAKES2713 6.67 72% (high) 6.00 59% (mid) 4.67 19% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
CALLA1223 6.33 58% (mid) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.67 55% (mid) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
CCHEN1209 6.00 44% (mid) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.67 55% (mid) 6.00 64% (mid) Balanced Social-leaning
Corgi2016 5.67 25% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 5.67 55% (mid) 5.33 34% (mid) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
DMgie8191 7.00 86% (high) 6.33 72% (high) 6.00 77% (high) 6.00 64% (mid) Academic-leaning Balanced
FIRST2007 6.67 72% (high) 7.00 89% (high) 7.00 94% (high) 7.00 89% (high) Social-leaning Balanced
Flack7890 6.67 72% (high) 6.33 72% (high) 6.67 89% (high) 7.00 89% (high) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
GALES9090 3.33 0% (low) 4.00 5% (low) 3.67 3% (low) 4.33 9% (low) Social-leaning Social-leaning
GONZA2007 6.00 44% (mid) 5.33 33% (low) 5.67 55% (mid) 6.00 64% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
GREAT3333 5.33 17% (low) 5.67 44% (mid) 5.33 47% (mid) 5.67 42% (mid) Social-leaning Social-leaning
HOLLY2550 5.00 9% (low) 6.67 84% (high) 5.67 55% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
Haeun1029 6.67 72% (high) 7.00 89% (high) 7.00 94% (high) 7.00 89% (high) Social-leaning Balanced
Henry6789 4.33 3% (low) 3.00 0% (low) 4.67 19% (low) 3.67 0% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
JJNKV2226 5.33 17% (low) 6.33 72% (high) 4.33 12% (low) 6.00 64% (mid) Social-leaning Social-leaning
KHANM7116 7.00 86% (high) 4.33 6% (low) 4.67 19% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
LARRY7733 7.00 86% (high) 4.33 6% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 3.67 0% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
LIMES1217 5.67 25% (low) 4.67 12% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 3.67 0% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
LOVES1206 5.67 25% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 5.67 55% (mid) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Balanced
LUNAS6002 7.00 86% (high) 6.33 72% (high) 6.33 84% (high) 7.00 89% (high) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
MARKO0706 5.00 9% (low) 5.33 33% (low) 3.67 3% (low) 5.00 23% (low) Social-leaning Social-leaning
MOLLY1206 6.00 44% (mid) 5.00 17% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 5.33 34% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
MOLLY8174 4.67 6% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 4.67 19% (low) 5.33 34% (mid) Social-leaning Social-leaning
MRMLC8607 5.67 25% (low) 7.00 89% (high) 6.00 77% (high) 6.67 81% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
Mochi2906 6.67 72% (high) 6.33 72% (high) 6.33 84% (high) 6.33 73% (high) Academic-leaning Balanced
Nevan2005 5.67 25% (low) 5.67 44% (mid) 5.67 55% (mid) 5.67 42% (mid) Balanced Balanced
PETAL2141 4.67 6% (low) 3.67 2% (low) 3.67 3% (low) 4.00 6% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
Paris1258 5.67 25% (low) 6.00 59% (mid) 6.00 77% (high) 5.67 42% (mid) Social-leaning Academic-leaning
Pools5678 5.33 17% (low) 6.33 72% (high) 5.00 30% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Social-leaning Social-leaning
RAYAS9214 6.67 72% (high) 6.67 84% (high) 7.00 94% (high) 6.33 73% (high) Balanced Academic-leaning
ROBIN0827 4.33 3% (low) 5.67 44% (mid) 4.67 19% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Social-leaning Social-leaning
ROCKS0507 6.33 58% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) 5.67 55% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
Roses0808 5.67 25% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 5.67 55% (mid) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
Rosie1007 7.00 86% (high) 5.67 44% (mid) 6.33 84% (high) 6.33 73% (high) Academic-leaning Balanced
SAMIA0267 7.00 86% (high) 7.00 89% (high) 5.67 55% (mid) 6.67 81% (high) Balanced Social-leaning
SMILE1974 6.00 44% (mid) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.67 55% (mid) 6.00 64% (mid) Balanced Social-leaning
SPAHN2026 6.00 44% (mid) 5.00 17% (low) 6.00 77% (high) 5.33 34% (mid) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
STEVY3792 6.33 58% (mid) 5.67 44% (mid) 6.67 89% (high) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
Steve1234 6.00 44% (mid) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.00 30% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Balanced Social-leaning
TACOS0510 5.67 25% (low) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.33 47% (mid) 5.00 23% (low) Social-leaning Academic-leaning
TATER2560 5.67 25% (low) 5.67 44% (mid) 4.33 12% (low) 6.33 73% (high) Balanced Social-leaning
TEACH3291 6.33 58% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) 5.67 55% (mid) 7.00 89% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
TEETH5157 5.00 9% (low) 6.33 72% (high) 5.00 30% (low) 6.67 81% (high) Social-leaning Social-leaning
TILDA6348 6.00 44% (mid) 5.67 44% (mid) 5.67 55% (mid) 5.00 23% (low) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
Trees4311 4.00 2% (low) 4.33 6% (low) 5.00 30% (low) 4.67 11% (low) Social-leaning Academic-leaning
VIBES1439 7.00 86% (high) 5.67 44% (mid) 7.00 94% (high) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Academic-leaning
VRXAZ1127 6.00 44% (mid) 5.33 33% (low) 4.33 12% (low) 5.67 42% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
YGITJ2954 5.00 9% (low) 3.67 2% (low) 3.67 3% (low) 3.67 0% (low) Academic-leaning Balanced
YonaG2026 5.67 25% (low) 5.67 44% (mid) 4.67 19% (low) 4.67 11% (low) Balanced Balanced
ashes2007 7.00 86% (high) 6.00 59% (mid) 5.00 30% (low) 6.00 64% (mid) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
buckl2105 5.67 25% (low) 5.00 17% (low) 3.67 3% (low) 4.00 6% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
press6028 6.33 58% (mid) 5.67 44% (mid) 2.67 0% (low) 4.67 11% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning
valve8250 6.33 58% (mid) 5.33 33% (low) 4.67 19% (low) 5.00 23% (low) Academic-leaning Social-leaning

Locate Your Score

Locate your score(s) relative to other peer mentors!

Your Motivational Style

Each dot is one peer mentor. These two plots split your motivation into how strongly you hold a focus and what you aim it at.

The horizontal axis is how strongly you hold that focus overall. The dashed line is the class median, so “high” and “low” mean relative to your classmates, not relative to the 1–7 scale. The vertical axis is a difference score: how much more you aim that focus at academic goals (your team’s research project) than at social goals (belonging and connection). Here the solid line at zero is a real anchor, not a class comparison. Above it you lean academic, below it you lean social, and on it you weight the two equally. Find your Promotion aim and Prevention aim in the table above.

NoteYour style is a snapshot, not a fixed type

The median split on the horizontal axis means roughly half the class sits on each side by construction. If you sit close to either line, small changes in a few answers would move you. The two plots are also independent: a strong promotion focus does not imply a weak prevention focus, and you can aim them at different goals. Read your position as a description of your current balance, not a fixed type.

Reflect and Plan

WarningJournal
  • Score: How does reflecting on your score help you think about who you are as a mentor?
  • Behavior: To be the best mentor you can be, what is one new thing you will try to do this week for mentees and/or your team?
TipDuring Class

Make note of when your energy goes toward helping mentees gain and grow versus avoiding mistakes, and whether you aim it at their research or their sense of belonging.