Development and field test of a feedback seeking, self-efficacy, and goal setting model of work performance

This field study examined the relationships among a set of feedback seeking , social cognitive, and goal setting constructs and the work performance of one hundred thirty-six sales and customer-service I representatives. As hy pothesized, feedback seeking and self-efficacy related to two dimensions of work performance (i.e., work quantity and work quality) through feedback-b ased goals. In addition, self-efficacy and feedback seeking mediated the re lationship between two individual differences (viz., personal control perce ptions and external feedback propensity) and both dimensions of work perfor mance. The findings extend research on work performance by underscoring the importance of incorporating feedback into work-related improvement goals w hen investigating the relationship between feedback seeking and work perfor mance. The findings also provide insight into the motivational processes un derlying the relationship among personal control perceptions, external feed back propensity, and work performance. Theoretical and practical implicatio ns are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.