How should positive feedback relate to negative feedback in use?

• A. They Should Be Kept Separate
• B. Positive Feedback Should Work in Conjunction with Negative Feedback
• C. Positive Feedback Should Replace Negative Feedback
• D. Negative Feedback Should Be Avoided Entirely

Answer: (B)

Feedback in practice should be balanced. Positive feedback acknowledges what was done well and helps the learner know what to repeat, while negative (corrective) feedback clearly identifies what needs to change and how to change it. When these two work together, they support both motivation and skill improvement: you reinforce successful elements and provide actionable guidance for improvement. If you keep them separate, you risk missing reinforcement of good habits; if you replace corrective with praise, you won’t address errors; if you avoid negative feedback altogether, needed adjustments won’t be learned. A practical approach is to pair specific praise with clear, actionable cues or drills to fix the issue, so positive and negative feedback complement each other.