A Field Study of the Effects of Gradually Terminated Public Feedback on Housekeeping Performance¹

Recent studies have shown that more feedback is not always better. A multiple baseline across‐groups design was used to assess the impact of infrequent (at gradually increasing intervals), publicly posted housekeeping feedback on the housekeeping level. The housekeeping performance of 3 road maintenance areas and I garage was monitored over a 6‐ to 17‐month period. The increases in performance were equivalent to studies giving more frequent housekeeping feedback at a fixed‐interval schedule. The length of feedback interval was not significantly correlated to the change in housekeeping index. The results suggest that after a learning period, the frequency at which feedback is provided may not be a critical factor. The appropriateness of feedback frequency may be affected by learning level (i. e., the information value of feedback at that particular time).