Abstract
This chapter offers new insight regarding the theoretical, methodological and practical concerns relating to feedback in higher education. It begins with the construction of a new definition of feedback. We explain how feedback is a learner-centred process in which impact is a core feature. The chapter then explores the reasons why identifying, let alone measuring, impact is problematic. We briefly revisit the contingent nature of educational research into cause and effect and question the implications for feedback processes that are likely to be experienced by individuals in different ways with different effects over different timescales. It is here we then discuss some ways we conceive the various forms of feedback effect including the intentional and unintentional, immediate and delayed, cognitive, affective, motivational, relational and social.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ajjawi, R., & Boud, D. (2018). Examining the nature and effects of feedback dialogue. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 43(7), 1106–1119. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1434128.
Boud, D., & Molloy, E. (2013). Rethinking models of feedback for learning: The challenge of design. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(6), 698–712.
Boud, D., Ajjawi, R., Dawson, P., & Tai, J. (Eds.). (2018). Developing evaluative judgement in higher education: Assessment for knowing and producing quality work. London: Routledge.
Carless, D. (2009). Trust, distrust and their impact on assessment reform. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 34(1), 79–89.
Carless, D. (2013). Trust and its role in facilitating dialogic feedback. In D. Boud & E. Molloy (Eds.), Feedback in higher and professional education (pp. 100–113). London: Routledge.
Carless, D. (2015). Excellence in university assessment: Learning from award-winning practice. London: Routledge.
Carless, D., & Boud, D. (2018, May 3). The development of student feedback literacy: Enabling uptake of feedback. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. Published Online. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1463354.
Crossman, J. (2007). The role of relationships and emotions in student perceptions of learning and assessment. Higher Education Research & Development, 26(3), 313–327.
Dawson, P., Boud, D., Henderson, M., Phillips, M., Molloy, E., & Ryan, T. (2018). What makes for effective feedback: Staff and student perspectives. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1467877.
Falchikov, N., & Boud, D. (2007). Assessment and emotion: The impact of being assessed. In D. Boud & N. Falchikov (Eds.), Rethinking assessment in higher education: Learning for the longer term (pp. 144–155). Oxon: Routledge.
Farrell, L., Bourgeois-Law, G., Ajjawi, R., & Regehr, G. (2017). An autoethnographic exploration of the use of goal oriented feedback to enhance brief clinical teaching encounters. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 22(1), 91–104.
Gorard, S. (2002). The role of causal models in evidence-informed policy making and practice. Evaluation & Research in Education, 16(1), 51–65.
Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. London: Routledge.
Maxwell, J. (2004). Causal explanation, qualitative research, and scientific inquiry in education. Educational Researcher, 33(2), 3–11. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3699970.
Molloy, E. (2009). Time to pause: Giving and receiving feedback in clinical education. In C. Delaney & E. Molloy (Eds.), Clinical Education in the Health Professions: An Educator’s Guide. Chatswood, New South Wales: Elsevier Australia.
Molloy, E., Borrell-Carrió, F., & Epstein, R. (2013). The impact of emotions in feedback. In D. Boud & E. Molloy (Eds.), Feedback in higher and professional education (pp. 60–81). London: Routledge.
Morrison, K. (2009). Causation in educational research. London: Routledge.
Nicol, D. (2010). From monologue to dialogue: Improving written feedback processes in mass higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 35(5), 501–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602931003786559.
Orsmond, P., Merry, S., & Reiling, K. (2005). Biology students’ utilization of tutors’ formative feedback: A qualitative interview study. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 30, 369–386.
Poulos, A., & Mahony, M. J. (2008). Effectiveness of feedback: The students’ perspective. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33(2), 143–154.
Rowe, A. D. (2017). Feelings about feedback: The role of emotions in assessment for learning. In D. Carless, S. Bridges, C. Chan, & R. Glofcheski (Eds.), Scaling up assessment for learning in higher education: The enabling power of assessment, pp. 159–172. Singapore: Springer.
Ryan, T., & Henderson, M. (2017). Feeling feedback: Students’ emotional responses to educator feedback. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2017.1416456.
Sadler, D. R. (1989). Formative assessment and the design of instructional systems. Instructional Science, 18(2), 119–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117714.
Sargeant, J., Mann, K., Sinclair, D., Van der Vleuten, C., & Metsemakers, J. (2007). Challenges in multisource feedback: Intended and unintended outcomes. Medical Education, 41(6), 583–591. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2007.02769.x.
Sargeant, J., Mann, K., Sinclair, D., Van der Vleuten, C., & Metsemakers, J. (2008). Understanding the influence of emotions and reflection upon multi-source feedback acceptance and use. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 13, 275–288.
Sutton, P., & Gill, W. (2010). Engaging feedback: Meaning, identity and power. Practitioner Research in Higher Education, 4(1), 3–13.
Tai, J., Ajjawi, R., Boud, D., Dawson, P., & Panadero, E. (2018). Developing evaluative judgement: Enabling students to make decisions about the quality of work. Higher Education, 76(3), 467–481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0220-3.
Telio, S., Regehr, G., & Ajjawi, R. (2016). Feedback and the educational alliance: Examining credibility judgements and their consequences. Medical Education, 50, 933–942.
Timmerman, A. A., & Dijkstra, J. (2017). A practice approach to programmatic assessment design. Advances in Health Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-017-9756-3.
van der Vleuten, C. P., Schuwirth, L. W. T., Driessen, E. W., Dijkstra, J., Tigelaar, D., Baartman, L. K. J., & van Tartwijk, J. (2012). A model for programmatic assessment fit for purpose. Medical Teacher, 34(3), 205–214. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159x.2012.652239.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
Wiener, N. (1989). The human use of human beings: Cybernetics and society. London: Free Association Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Henderson, M., Ajjawi, R., Boud, D., Molloy, E. (2019). Identifying Feedback That Has Impact. In: Henderson, M., Ajjawi, R., Boud, D., Molloy, E. (eds) The Impact of Feedback in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25112-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25112-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-25111-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-25112-3
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)