Page 27 - Computer - 10(A&B)

Process of Feedback

The process of feedback involves the following steps:
v Listening and understanding the message properly.
v Asking question if the message is not understood properly and get it clarified.
v Understanding the message in the sense it was originally intended.

v Conveying the reaction to the sender of the message.

Types of Feedback
All types of feedback are either positive or negative.
Positive feedback is the kind of feedback which is more or less acceptable or satisfactory to the sender. It means
that the recipient of the message has responded in the way intended by the sender and taken the intended course
of action. It signifies that everything is on the right track and no corrective measure regarding communication is
necessary.
Negative feedback is the kind of feedback, that conveys disagreement,
dissatisfaction or disapproval to the sender. Thus, negative feedback
suggests that the communication has not been effective and some correction,
adjustment, or reassessment is required in the process.
Feedback may further be categorised in the following types:
v Formative feedback: It is given throughout the learning process. It is
meant to determine how students are progressing through a certain
learning goal and used to correct the mistakes.

For example, if the teacher writes in your monthly test paper for you to improve your handwriting, it is a
formative feedback.

v Summative feedback: It is given at the end of the learning process. It is meant to evaluate a person and
accordingly reward for the good actions or punish for the mistakes.
For example, when the teacher gives less marks in final exam due to your bad handwriting, it is summative
feedback.
v Descriptive feedback: This type of feedback identifies the communication in a neutral way without offering
any advice.
For example, when you do not score well in a cricket match, your cricket coach tells you to concentrate on
the game. It is descriptive feedback.
v Prescriptive feedback: It provides advice on how a communication should have gone. The feedback provides
vital tips to improve the communication.
For example, when you do not play well in cricket match, the cricket coach not only points out that you lost
due to your faulty form, but advices you ways to improve it.
v Specific and Non-specific Feedback: A feedback may be specific or non-specific. The specific feedback
helps in modifying the communication process or behaviour for the purpose of learning by influencing your
thought process. It provides detailed information on what you did right or where you scored poorly.

Non-specific feedback is not detailed and not very helpful. A non-specific feedback is a generic feedback
that just says whether the communication was good or bad. It does not give any details or any advice for
improvement.
For example, after listening to your speech, if your teacher says that you did well or it was good then it is a
non-specific feedback. A specific feedback would be more detailed if the teacher says that you mentioned all
the points in logical sequence and you conveyed your viewpoint very well.

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