The Effects of Parametrically Manipulating the Ratio of Complimentary to Constructive Feedback Statements on Performance
type: CreativeWork
description: Performance feedback is frequently discussed and implemented. Although shown to be quite effective, the characteristics of feedback have yet to be fully explored. Feedback ratio was explored in this study. While participants evaluated the postural safety of body positions presented on a computer screen, researchers measured the (a) number of s that it took participants to evaluate body positions (i.e., response time), (b) percent of correctly evaluated body positions (i.e., percent correct), and (c) extent to which participants appreciated the statements they received after responding (i.e., rating). Using a mixed-factorial design, researchers manipulated feedback within groups and feedback ratio between groups. Within groups, all participants were exposed to a control session, in which responses produced confirmation statements, and subsequent experimental sessions, in which responses produced feedback statements. Between groups, participants were randomly assigned to one of the five following ratios of complimentary to constructive feedback statements: 10:0, 8:2, 5:5, 2:8, and 0:10. Feedback decreased response time and increased percent correct across all groups. Feedback ratio differentially affected most groups on response time and some groups on percent correct. Both effects were more evident on response time than percent correct. Further, higher ratios of complimentary feedback statements were more effective on response time, while higher ratios of constructive feedback statements were more effective on percent correct. These results suggest that the effect of feedback ratio depends on the type of behavior targeted for improvement and that certain ratios may be more effective at changing behavior than others.
abstract: Performance feedback is frequently discussed and implemented. Although shown to be quite effective, the characteristics of feedback have yet to be fully explored. Feedback ratio was explored in this study. While participants evaluated the postural safety of body positions presented on a computer screen, researchers measured the (a) number of s that it took participants to evaluate body positions (i.e., response time), (b) percent of correctly evaluated body positions (i.e., percent correct), and (c) extent to which participants appreciated the statements they received after responding (i.e., rating). Using a mixed-factorial design, researchers manipulated feedback within groups and feedback ratio between groups. Within groups, all participants were exposed to a control session, in which responses produced confirmation statements, and subsequent experimental sessions, in which responses produced feedback statements. Between groups, participants were randomly assigned to one of the five following ratios of complimentary to constructive feedback statements: 10:0, 8:2, 5:5, 2:8, and 0:10. Feedback decreased response time and increased percent correct across all groups. Feedback ratio differentially affected most groups on response time and some groups on percent correct. Both effects were more evident on response time than percent correct. Further, higher ratios of complimentary feedback statements were more effective on response time, while higher ratios of constructive feedback statements were more effective on percent correct. These results suggest that the effect of feedback ratio depends on the type of behavior targeted for improvement and that certain ratios may be more effective at changing behavior than others.
author: Mentzer, Amanda
keywords: Applied Behavior Analysis, Business Administration, Management, and Operations, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Performance Management, Training and Development, feedback, feedback characteristics, feedback ratio, feedback classification system, organizational behavior management
date published: 2017-02-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:59:38Z
provider: City University of New York - Graduate Center
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York