The Reflected Best Self field experiment with adolescent leaders: Exploring the psychological resources associated with feedback source and valence
Authors
Published
Journal of Positive Psychology,
5
ed., vol.
4, pp.
331-348,
September
2009
Abstract
This study provides a preliminary examination of the efficacy of the Reflected Best Self Exercise. We conducted a
field quasi-experiment with 108 adolescent leaders assigned to a 2!2 design: (1) valence of feedback
(i.e., strengths-only versus strengths and improvement-oriented) and (2) source of feedback (i.e., professional
(e.g., teachers, coaches, bosses) only versus professional and personal (e.g., friends and family)). By ANOVA,
support was found for the hypothesis that feedback from the combination of professional and personal sources is
associated with more positive emotional, agentic, and relational resources than feedback from only professional
sources. Little support was found for the hypothesis that strengths-based feedback generates more positive
emotional, agentic, or relational resources. Limitations, implications for practice and directions for future
research are discussed.
