Does task type moderate the effect of feedback sign on motivation and performance?

Applying regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997), we hypothesized that task type, as an antecedent to situational regulatory focus, moderates the effect of feedback sign on motivation and performance. First we pre-tested and established the effects of different tasks on perceived prevention or promotion foci; then we tested the moderating effect of task type on the effects of feedback sign on motivation and performance. The results indicate that individuals working on tasks requiring vigilance and attention to detail increase their self-reported motivation (Study 1) and actual performance (Study 2) more following negative feedback than following positive feedback, whereas the opposite is true for people working on creative tasks. These findings suggest that (a) regulatory focus not only affects performance, but that the performance of different tasks also affects regulatory focus; (b) variability in feedback sign effects can be partially explained by regulatory focus and task type.