Cultural feedback styles

Students yearn for constructive feedback. However, some feedback can be discouraging if not well received by the students. There is individual variation in how students are used to getting feedback and in the styles they appreciate, but some average feedback behavior may be typical for their cultures.

The following graph exemplifies cultural differences in handling negative feedback. Being aware of some cultural tendencies will help learning instructors to consider their feedback practices.

Even in some low-context and typically explicitly communicating cultures negative criticism may need to be very indirect and ”encrypted”, while in some other cultures straight, explicit criticism may be a norm.

Process for inclusive evaluation and feedback

Source: Based on Meyer, E. 2014. The Culture Map.