How to Formulate a Constructive, Positive Feedback in PhD Education

Abstract

Giving constructive feedback is an important skill for leaders in industry, non-profit organizations, or academia. Feedback is one of the most effective ways to influence the motivation and performance of an individual. It is however critically important how a feedback is provided. There are several rules and facts one should know before providing feedback to avoid a contrary effect like demotivation, or misunderstanding. Such aspects have been described both in pedagogical literature and some industrial websites. However, regarding PhD education, which is in some sense unique, little attention has been paid. In this study, we propose a prototype problem in the perception of positive feedback by a fictive PhD student, Elza, analyze the origin of the problem, and provide our perspectives on how to solve this problem. Our study is limited to positive feedback (either oral or written) in Swedish PhD education. In the future, a study of negative feedback will provide deeper insight into how to formulate proper constructive feedback to PhD students in order to promote their intrinsic motivation.