"Just letting you know … " Underestimating others' desire for constructive feedback

Area of Science:

• Psychological Science
• Social Psychology
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Individuals often avoid providing feedback, even when it could benefit others.
• A pilot study showed very low rates of feedback provision in a real-world scenario.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate why people avoid giving feedback.
• To determine if underestimating others' desire for feedback is a key reason.
• To explore factors influencing the decision to give feedback.

Main Methods:

• Five experiments with 1,984 participants were conducted.
• Studies included hypothetical scenarios, recalled experiences, real-time interactions, and a public speaking contest.
• Interventions focused on considering the receiver's perspective and the giver's own discomfort.

Main Results:

• People consistently underestimate how much others want constructive feedback.
• Underestimation is particularly pronounced regarding the value receivers place on feedback.
• Perspective-taking interventions effectively increased recognition of receivers' desire for feedback.

Conclusions:

• The reluctance to give feedback stems significantly from underestimating its perceived value by receivers.
• This underestimation has negative consequences, hindering performance improvements for feedback recipients.
• Encouraging givers to consider the receiver's perspective can improve feedback provision.