Well Done! Effects of Positive Feedback on Perceived Self-Efficacy, Flow and Performance in a Mental Arithmetic Task

Abstract

Self-efficacy is a well-known psychological resource, being positively associated with increased performance. Furthermore, results from field studies suggest a positive impact of self-efficacy on flow experience, which has not yet been tested experimentally. In this study, we manipulated self-efficacy by means of positive feedback and investigated whether self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between positive feedback and flow and in the relationship between positive feedback and performance. Our sample consisted of 102 participants (63 female, 39 male). The experimental group received positive feedback after completing 5 min of mental arithmetic tasks on a computer, whereas the control group received no feedback. A second session of a mental arithmetic task was then completed for 5 min. Mediation analyses confirmed that specific self-efficacy mediated a positive effect of positive feedback on flow as well as on both performance measures (quality and quantity) in a subsequent task. However, direct effects of feedback on flow and on performance were not significant, which suggests the presence of other mechanisms that remain to be investigated.

Nudging flow through ‘SMART’ goal setting to decrease stress, increase engagement, and increase performance at work

“…Strategies proposed by Bakker and van Woerkom (2017) such as job crafting, playful work design, and strengths use should also be examined in future studies. Other potential strategies include positive feedback (Peifer, Schönfeld, Schönfeld, Wolters, Aust, & Margraf, 2020) and mindfulness (Weintraub & Dust, 2020) interventions should be tested in easily implemented field studies. Additionally, while the goal‐setting nudge was supported as an effective intervention, there is potential for improving this strategy in future research as well.…”

Spatial Learning in a Virtual Environment: The Role of Self-Efficacy Feedback and Individual Visuospatial Factors

“…Studies that implemented normative feedback administered various kinds of cognitive tasks (e.g., arithmetic tasks, name recall). They demonstrated that participants who received positive normative feedback reported higher self-efficacy and performed better compared to those who did not receive feedback [ 18 , 19 ]. These results seem to suggest that fictitious positive normative feedback is an effective intervention to promote self-efficacy [ 18 ].…”

“…They demonstrated that participants who received positive normative feedback reported higher self-efficacy and performed better compared to those who did not receive feedback [ 18 , 19 ]. These results seem to suggest that fictitious positive normative feedback is an effective intervention to promote self-efficacy [ 18 ]. However, to our knowledge, no studies have manipulated self-efficacy in the spatial cognition domain.…”

“…One recent study on arithmetic tasks [ 18 ] suggested that the effect of positive feedback on spatial learning is mediated by increasing self-efficacy. Our second aim was to investigate whether positive feedback could increase spatial self-efficacy in spatial-recall tasks.…”

“…We used a mediation analysis to test this relationship. We expected that levels of task-specific self-efficacy would be higher in the group with positive feedback and that task-specific self-efficacy could mediate the effect of the feedback on spatial-recall performance [ 18 ].…”