A new study by researchers at Kessler Foundation has found that individuals with low confidence in their performance are more likely to seek corrective feedback, leading to better learning outcomes. The study, which analyzed participants’ decisions during a memory task tied to monetary rewards, reveals that negative feedback is particularly effective in promoting learning.
The research suggests that lack of confidence plays a pivotal role in determining the value of feedback information to an individual. When individuals are uncertain about their performance, they seek out corrective feedback, which enhances their learning outcomes. Conversely, emotional responses such as stress were not significant predictors of feedback-seeking behavior.
In the study, participants earned money based on their test performance and had to decide whether to pay for feedback during the learning phase. The results showed that participants were more likely to purchase feedback when they were uncertain about their learning accuracy. Furthermore, negative feedback improved test performance by promoting learning.
The findings highlight the critical role of feedback strategies in education, workplaces, and rehabilitation settings. The research emphasizes that the informational value of feedback often outweighs the emotional discomfort of being wrong, particularly when tied to clear incentives such as monetary rewards.
This study provides actionable insights for optimizing feedback strategies, which can lead to improved learning outcomes. By teaching individuals to embrace feedback, even when it’s critical, learning outcomes in various fields can be greatly enhanced. The research supports the idea that low confidence in performance is a key driver of feedback-seeking behavior and highlights the importance of using negative feedback effectively in promoting learning.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/learning-feedback-confidence-28107