SITUATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL DETERMINANTS OF FEEDBACK SEEKING - A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROCESS

The present study investigated the effects of situational (the feedbac k seeking context) and individual (public self-consciousness and self- esteem) determinants on the feedback seeking process (cf. Ashford and Northcraft, 1992; Northcraft and Ashford, 1990). A model was developed based on past research and theory (Ashford and Cummings, 1983; Larson , 1989; Morrison and Bies, 1991) which attempts to explicate how both situational and individual variables fit into this complicated process . Multiple measures of the seeking process were used to further our un derstanding in this area. Individuals' intent to seek feedback, feedba ck seeking frequency, and the tendency to reconsider and modify their initial intentions were measured behaviorally over time. The importanc e of each of these variables was empirically demonstrated through the use of a computerized scheduling task on which individuals had the opp ortunity to request feedback. The results provide new insight into the feedback seeking process and have widespread organizational implicati ons. Some new directions for feedback seeking research are also sugges ted. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.