Examining The Function Of Feedback

The use of feedback as an informational tool to affect performance is widely accepted in behavior analysis. Feedback has been loosely defined as information provided to individuals about the quantity or quality of their past performance and current research has noted a lack of clarity in how feedback is used, as well as a need to define it in terms of basic principles. Furthermore, the effects of feedback have yet to be examined in terms of their functions, and this has long been an elusive topic in behavior analytic literature. This study examined the effects of various possible antecedent and consequence variables on participants’ performance on a simulated work task. We utilized the functional analysis methodology, and types of feedback used were categorized in ways similar to those used in a typical functional analysis procedure: positive reinforcement, in the form of brief praise and/or money on gift cards, negative reinforcement in the form of escape from mild reprimands, and nonsocial forms of reinforcement. These were examined across five conditions and systematically manipulated, using a multielement design. Upon visual analysis of the data, there was no differentiation in responding, across all participants; that is, all variables had relatively similar effects on performance for each individual participant. The findings are discussed in terms of possible rule-governed behavior in the form of goal setting and other effects that verbal behavior may have on performance.