What do students want most from written feedback information? Distinguishing necessities from luxuries using a budgeting methodology. Issue 8 (16th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Winstone, Naomi E.; Nash, Robert A.; Rowntree, James; Menezes, Richard
• Is Part Of: Assessment & evaluation in higher education. Volume 41:Issue 8(2016)
• Page Start: 1237
• Page End: 1253
• Publication Date: 2016-11-16
• Subjects: feedback -- approaches to learning -- student preferences -- teacher characteristics; Education, Higher -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; 378
• DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2015.1075956
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-2938

Abstract

Abstract : Feedback is a key concern for higher education practitioners, yet there is little evidence concerning the aspects of assessment feedback information that higher education students prioritise when their lecturers' time and resources are stretched. One recent study found that, in such circumstances, students actually perceive feedback information itself as a luxury rather than a necessity. We first re-examined that finding by asking undergraduates to 'purchase' characteristics to create the ideal lecturer, using budgets of differing sizes to distinguish necessities from luxuries. Contrary to the earlier research, students in fact considered good feedback information the single biggest necessity for lecturers to demonstrate. In a second study, we used the same method to examine the characteristics of feedback information that students value most. Here, the most important perceived necessity was guidance on improvement of skills. In both studies, students' priorities were influenced by their individual approaches to learning. These findings permit a more pragmatic approach to building student satisfaction in spite of growing expectations and demands.