Knowledge of results

Knowledge of results is a term in the psychology of learning.^[1]^[2]^: 619 A psychology dictionary defines it as feedback of information:

"(a) to a subject about the correctness of [their] responses; (b) a student about success or failure in mastering material, or (c) a client in psychotherapy about progress".^[3]

It describes the situation where a subject gets information which helps them to change behaviour in a desirable way, or to gain understanding.

There are a number of similar terms in psychology:

KCR: this means "knowledge of correct results". This implies that there is always a specific correct result.
Operant conditioning and reinforcement: this implies a behaviourist approach using schedules of reinforcement to "shape behaviour".
Feedback: this is a more general term, often used for the way systems adjust to preset limits. It is often used in general conversation, with various meanings. Corrective feedback is a version sometimes used in school education.

Knowledge of results,^[1] or sometimes immediate knowledge of results,^[4] can be used for any learning where a student (or an animal) gets information after the action. The information is about how satisfactory the action is.

^ ^a ^b Annett, J. (1964). "The role of knowledge of results in learning: a survey". In De Cecco, John P. (ed.). Educational Technology: Readings in Programmed Instruction. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. pp. 279–285.
^ Lumsdaine, Arthur A. (1963). "Instruments and media of instruction". In Gage, Nathaniel L. (ed.). Handbook of research on teaching. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally. pp. 583–682.
^ Reber, Arthur S.; Reber, Emily S.; Allen, Rhiannon (2001). The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology (3rd ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 381. ISBN 978-0140514513.
^ Rowntree, Derek (1966). Basically branching: a handbook for programmers. London: Macdonald. p. 41.

[John-1] Annett, J. (1964). "The role of knowledge of results in learning: a survey". In De Cecco, John P. (ed.). Educational Technology: Readings in Programmed Instruction. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. pp. 279–285.

[Art-2] Lumsdaine, Arthur A. (1963). "Instruments and media of instruction". In Gage, Nathaniel L. (ed.). Handbook of research on teaching. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally. pp. 583–682.

[3] Reber, Arthur S.; Reber, Emily S.; Allen, Rhiannon (2001). The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology (3rd ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 381. ISBN 978-0140514513.

[4] Rowntree, Derek (1966). Basically branching: a handbook for programmers. London: Macdonald. p. 41.

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