Comparative performance feedback provides users an idea of how their performance compares to that of other members (through things like leaderboards). It can increase contributions, so long as high performance is reasonably obtainable and desirable. However, in communities that are intended to be supportive, this type of feedback can create a competitive atmosphere that inhibits contributions from less competitive members.

Comparative performance feedback

- Feedback about one's performance 
- Can be verbal (comments on a post) or nonverbal (likes/upvotes on a post)
- Can be particularly motivating, especially when positive, though it must be appear sincere (best if it reflects a general consensus instead of one opinion)

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Feedback: tells people how other users feel about their participation in a community.

Rewards and sanctions: give or take away something that users find valuable based on their behavior.



Feedback and rewards (and sanctions)

Kraut, Robert E., and Paul Resnick. Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design. MIT Press, 2012.

Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design (Kraut and Resnick)

- Whether the community the community has an informal or structured feedback system

- Does the community have a ratings, likes or upvote system; what is it used for?

- Is there a user status established? (e.g. reputation score)

- Can users receive an increase in privileges, money or prizes?

Examples of feedback and rewards (and sanctions) decisions in OCs

Performance feedback

- Performance-contingent rewards are offered based on the quality of a user's contributions
- Task-contingent rewards are offered solely based on effort (not quality)

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