Effects of Timing and Reference Frame of Feedback

Mira Fischer and Valentin Wagner

No 150, Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series from CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition

Abstract: Information about past performance has been found to sometimes improve and sometimes worsen subsequent performance. Two factors may help to explain this puzzle: which aspect of one\'s past performance the information refers to and when it is revealed. In a field experiment in secondary schools, students received information about their absolute rank in the last math exam (level feedback), their change in ranks between the second-last and the last math exam (change feedback), or no feedback. Feedback was given either 1-3 days (early) or immediately (late) before the final math exam of the semester. Both level feedback and change feedback significantly improve students\' grades in the final exam when given early and tend to worsen them when given late. The largest effects are found for negative change feedback and are concentrated on male students, who adjust their ability beliefs downwards in response to feedback.

Keywords: timing of feedback; type of feedback; beliefs; education; field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 D91 I21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-03-26
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-hrm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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