Which form of feedback is most associated with guiding future performance rather than just correcting the current error?

• A. Corrective feedback (explicit or implicit)
• B. Diagnostic feedback
• C. Positive reinforcement
• D. Verbal praise only

Answer: (B)

Diagnostic feedback focuses on identifying what the learner still needs to understand and on planning the next steps for improvement. It digs into the gaps, shows where the understanding is breaking down, and provides specific, actionable guidance for future practice and instruction. This makes it particularly helpful for guiding future performance because it ties assessment to targeted next steps, so the learner knows exactly what to work on and how to advance.

Other forms tend to address the immediate issue rather than the path forward. Corrective feedback fixes the current error and shows what’s correct, but it doesn’t always map out the learner’s next moves. Positive reinforcement and verbal praise encourage effort or correct performance, yet they don’t provide the concrete guidance needed to improve future attempts.