The Relative Effects of the Feedback Delivery Method(Face-to-Face vs. e-mail) and Reinforcement History on Quality Control Work Performance

Abstract

This study examined the relative effects of different feedback delivery method (face-to-face vs. e-mail) and reinforcement history on work performance. Participants were asked to work on a simulated mobile phone assembly task. They performed for 30 minutes per session and attended 4 sessions. The dependents variable was the percentage of correctly completed work tasks. Of 100 participants recruited, 50 had a reinforcement history and another 50 had no reinforcement history with the feedback provider in this study. The participants in each group were randomly assigned into two experimental conditions: face-to-face feedback and e-mail feedback.The results showed that for the participants who had reinforcement history, the two feedback delivery methods did not produce a significant difference in the percentage of correctly completed work tasks. However, for those who had no reinforcement history, the two feedback methods did produce a significant difference.