Factors Affecting the Frequency, Timing, and Sign of Informal Supervisory Feedback to Subordinates in a Simulated...

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resources Management
• Communication Studies

Background:

• Informal supervisory feedback is crucial for employee development and performance.
• Key characteristics of feedback include frequency, timing, and sign (valence).
• Factors influencing feedback characteristics require empirical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define critical characteristics of informal supervisory feedback determining message effectiveness.
• To identify determinants of feedback characteristics: subordinate performance, feedback mode, and interdependence.
• To experimentally examine the interplay of these factors on feedback delivery.

Main Methods:

• A multivariate 2x2x2 factorial experimental design was employed.
• One hundred male psychology students acted as supervisors in a simulated work environment.
• Independent variables manipulated: subordinate performance level, feedback mode (written vs. face-to-face), and supervisor-subordinate interdependence.

Main Results:

• Overall MANOVA results were highly significant, indicating substantial effects.
• Supervisors provided feedback more frequently to poor performers compared to good performers.
• Feedback frequency was higher in the written mode than in face-to-face interactions.

Conclusions:

• Subordinate performance level significantly influences feedback frequency.
• The mode of communication impacts the frequency of supervisory feedback.
• Findings contribute to understanding how to optimize supervisory feedback for enhanced effectiveness.