Effects of mood state and favorability of feedback on reactions to performance feedback

An experimental simulation involving 55 women assessed the main and interactive effects of experimentally induced mood state (positive vs negative) and favorability of performance feedback (positive vs negative) on the perceived accuracy of feedback. The study was conducted in two sessions. During Session I the subjects role-played the position of an advertising agent and worked on an advertising task. In Session II they were administered either a positive or negative mood induction, given positive or negative feedback on the advertising task, and completed a measure of the perceived accuracy of feedback. Regression analyses indicated support for hypothesized main and interactive effects, suggesting that mood state and favorability of feedback interactively affect the perceived accuracy of received feedback.