THE EFFECTS OF SOURCE, MESSAGE AND RECIPIENT DIMENSIONS OF FEEDBACK ON TASK PERFORMANCE AND COGNITIONS IN A GOAL SETTING CONTEXT

Psychologists have continually researched the effects of knowledge of performance results and goal setting on task performance. The present study attempted to determine whether differences in the source, message and recipient characteristics of a feedback stimulus affect the performance and cognitions of individuals attempting to attain an externally imposed work goal. Ninety subjects were assigned to one of 18 treatment conditions in a 3 (supervisory support) x 3 (feedback direction) x 2 (self-esteem) experimental design with repeated measures over four performance trials. Measures of goal acceptance, goal commitment, subjective probability of goal attainment and personal aspirations were collected prior to performing a clerical coding task in each of the four trials of interest. Results indicated that raw performance indices are not reliably affected by the source, message and recipient dimensions studied. Performance improvement for subjects low in self-esteem, however, is facilitated by interacting with a supportive supervisor. The data analyses completed also uncovered consistent effects of feedback direction on cognitive variables which are relevant to current motivational theories. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for established theories of work motivation as well as enhancing productive work behavior