Seek and Ye Shall Find: An Empirical Examination of the Effects of Seeking Real-Time Feedback on Employee Performance Evaluations

Abstract

This research delves into the impact of real-time feedback applications on the engagement of employees with performance evaluation programs. The study focuses on feedback-seeking behavior and rating, which have been neglected in previous literature. The research analyzes nearly 11,000 feedback instances from employees at four major organizations to examine how seeking and rating feedback affects in-kind evaluations. The results indicate that seeking feedback can enhance constructive communication among colleagues. Feedback seekers receive lower feedback scores but are more likely to receive longer and more subjective comments. Feedback givers who choose to remain anonymous provide shorter comments or no comments to feedback seekers. The study also reveals that feedback seekers prioritize longer comments over high feedback scores when rating feedback. The study recommends that managers and organizations encourage feedback-seeking behavior to promote a culture of constructive feedback. When implementing feedback applications, it is important to prioritize creating an environment that fosters constructive feedback.