In reader feedback, readers write or comment on a book or article that has been written by someone else. This is a form of constructive criticism that can help improve the work. Readers can provide feedback on a variety of aspects, such as how engaging or difficult the text is to read, whether they found it entertaining or informative, and whether they feel that the author’s point of view is developed.
Reader response theory is a literary criticism method that recognizes that the reader’s role in interpreting a text is essential to its meaning. It emphasizes that the interpretation is not determined solely by the text itself but by a variety of factors, including personal experience, cultural values, and social conventions. It differs from theories of formalism and the New Criticism, which emphasized that only that which is within the text is part of its meaning.
The reader-response approach to literature draws on psychoanalytic psychology. For example, in his 1968 essay, Norman Holland modeled the dynamics of a literary work as an interaction between the reading subject and the fantasy world a reader introjects into it, which is then modified by defense mechanisms to become an interpretation. It also supports feminist critics’ concerns about stereotyped portrayals of women and gender relations.
The process of gathering reader feedback begins with publishers deciding why they want to gather it, how they will use the information gathered and what kinds of questions to ask. In the case of articles, open-ended questions are best for prompting useful responses. Readers can give feedback on all sorts of aspects, such as how engaging or interesting the article is to read, whether they found it informative, and what aspects of the writing or the topic they enjoyed. They can also offer suggestions on how to improve the writing, such as suggesting more details or different approaches to the topic.