Coworker feedback seeking and feedback environment in China: An expectation states theory approach

We empirically explored the impact of feedback seeking, including feedback inquiry and monitoring, on the coworker feedback environment via coworker identification. Participants were 264 employees who worked in research and development, design, and technology sectors of industrial enterprises in China. The results indicated that feedback monitoring, feedback inquiry, and coworker identification were all positively related to the coworker feedback environment after controlling for the effects of demographic variables. Further, coworker identification fully mediated the relationship between feedback inquiry/monitoring and the coworker feedback environment. Our findings expand understanding of the feedback loop by bridging the gap between coworker feedback seeking and the coworker feedback environment. We recommend that coworkers encourage employees’ feedback-seeking behavior so that the workplace feedback environment motivates them to ask for the help they need to work independently.