The Mediating Effect of Trust in Supervisors in the Relationship between Constructive Performance Feedback and Perceived Fairness of Performance Appraisal

Abstract

This research addressed two main research questions: (1) Is constructive performance feedback positively related to perceived fairness of performance appraisal? (2) Does trust in supervisors mediate the relationship between constructive performance feedback and the perception of a performance appraisal as being fair? Using the 2018 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey dataset, we employed the structural equation model to analyze the relationship. Findings revealed that constructive performance feedback and trust in supervisors were positively and significantly associated with perceived fairness of performance appraisal. Further, trust in supervisors partially mediated the relationship between constructive performance feedback and perceived fairness of performance appraisal.

Keywords:

• performance feedback
• performance appraisal
• perceived fairness
• trust in supervisors

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geunpil Ryu

Geunpil Ryu, PhD, is an assistant professor of Department of Public Administration at Chonnam National University. His research focuses on public employees’ well-being, work motivation, performance appraisal, and human resource development. He has several journal articles at Review of Public Personnel Administration, Public Personnel Management, Public Organization Review, and Journal of Workplace Learning.

Sung-Woo Hong

Sung-Woo Hong, PhD, is an assistant professor of Department of Public Administration at Daejin University. His research focuses on policy agenda, policy evaluation and regional development.