Immediate Feedback Preference

When to Deliver Feedback: Recipients Prefer Immediately

Publication: Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (Vol. 16, 1996)

Article: A comparison of Staff Acceptability of Immediate versus Delayed Verbal Feedback in Staff Training

Authors: Dennis H. Reid, Marsha B. Parsons

Reviewed By: Daniel B. Sundberg

Everyone knows that verbal feedback works: if you tell people  they are doing something right they tend to keep doing it, and if you tell them to correct something, they usually do. However, few studies have examined social aspects of feedback. For example, if people need to be told to do something differently, how would they like to hear it? Reid and Parsons (1996) conducted a study to evaluate the acceptability of a staff training procedure involving verbal feedback. The unique thing about this study was that both types of feedback offered during the training program–delayed and immediate–were previously shown to work equally well. What this study examined instead, is which method was most preferred by those receiving the feedback.

The study involved 27 direct care staff members as they learned to implement behavior plans with their clients. The staff went through an intensive training program that lasted over 2 weeks. Researchers interviewed the staff before training, to see which method they thought they would want, again after training, to see which they actually liked more, and again a short while later to see which type they would like for future training. 

The results? Not a single participant in any condition chose delayed feedback. Furthermore, the large majority chose immediate feedback over no preference. Even though the two procedures produce approximately the same learning outcomes they are not the same from the perspective of the trainees. In addition, the authors point out that immediate feedback is easier for trainers as well, since they do not have to spend their time and energy attempting to recall the performance days after. Given two similar methods, why not kill two birds with one stone, and make both staff and supervisors happy?

Reid, D.H., & Parsons, M.B. (1996). A comparison of staff acceptability of immediate versus delayed verbal feedback in staff training. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 16(2), 35-47.