THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEEDBACK DESIGN

Summary from the TLDR Marketing newsletter

The way performance scores are displayed influences how users perceive quality. Cumulative formats reduce the impact of negative feedback and support trust, while incremental formats highlight each rating and push accountability. When both are shown, users focus on the most extreme score, usually negative. Display formats can be adjusted by user type. New users benefit from progress visibility, while experienced ones prefer consistency. This approach can shape behavior without altering the data.