Should You Order the Feedback Sandwich? Efficacy of Feedback Sequence and Timing

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the efficacy of feedback sequence—namely, the feedback sandwich—and timing on performance. Undergraduate participants performed simulated office tasks, each associated with a feedback sequence (positive–corrective–positive, positive–positive–corrective, corrective–positive–positive, and no feedback), presented in a counterbalanced fashion. Half of the participants received individual verbal feedback delivered privately by the researcher immediately after each session, and the remaining participants received the same type of feedback immediately before each session. The aggregate data suggested no feedback was the most efficacious for participants who experienced feedback prior to performance, and the corrective–positive–positive sequence was the most efficacious for participants who received feedback following performance. Differences in feedback timing were not significant except for the no feedback condition. These results document that the feedback sandwich was not the most efficacious sequence, despite claims to the contrary.

KEYWORDS:

• criticism sandwich
• feedback sandwich
• feedback sequence
• feedback timing

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was conducted by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at the University of Kansas.

Notes

1. Specific feedback statements are available from the first author on request.