The DOI matches its Crossref record; 6 of the 6 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Getting the Message Across: The problem of communicating assessment feedback
Abstract
Current literature provides useful insights into the role of assessment feedback in student learning, yet fails to recognise its complexity as a unique form of communication. This article outlines ideas emerging from ongoing research into the meaning and impact of assessment feedback for students in higher education. We argue that new models of communication are required to understand students' responses to the language of tutors' comments, and that issues of discourse, identity, power, control and social relationships should be central to any understanding of assessment feedback as a communication process. Implications of adopting an alternative perspective for research and practice are identified and discussed.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Students do not always receive feedback in the way the teacher has intended (Higgins et al., 2001).”
From The Next Black Box of Formative Assessment: A Model of the Internal Mechanisms of Feedback Processing (2022) · cites this paper as Higgins et al., 2001
Citations
Cites
Communication Theory as a Field
Craig, R. T. (1999) · Communication Theory · doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.1999.tb00355.x · Cited by 1,482
Barnett, R. (1990) · Cited by 422
Student Writing in Higher Education: New Contexts.
Lea, M. R., & Stierer, B. (2000) · Open Research Online - ORO (The Open University) · Cited by 387
Academic writing in new and emergent discipline areas
(2001) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203996287-16 · Cited by 86
Empowerng or Ensnaring?: The Implications of Outcome‐based Assessment in Higher Education
Ecclestone, K. (1999) · Higher Education Quarterly · doi:10.1111/1468-2273.00111 · Cited by 75
Education or grading? Arguments for a non-subdivided honours degree
Winter, R. (1993) · Studies in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/03075079312331382271 · Cited by 26
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- DING L., paper presented to Scottish Educational Research Association Annual Conference
- ECCLESTONE K., paper presented to Scottish Educational Research Association Annual Conference
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–300 of 544
Randall, L. M., & Zundel, P. E. (2012) · The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning · doi:10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2012.1.3 · Cited by 17
Practice of written feedback in nursing degree programmes in Karachi: the students' perspective.
Khowaja, A. A., Gul, R. B., Lakhani, A., Rizvi, N. F., & Saleem, F. (2014) · PubMed · Cited by 13
ON THE IMPACT OF SELF-ASSESSMENT ON EFL LEARNERS' RECEPTIVE SKILLS PERFORMANCE
Hassan, S. (2012) · International Research Journal of Arts & Humanities (IRJAH) · Cited by 13
Supporting better formative feedback in task-oriented portfolio assessment
Renzella, J., & Cain, A. (2017) · IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering · doi:10.1109/tale.2017.8252362 · Cited by 13
ElShaer, A., Casanova, D., Freestone, N., & Calabrese, G. (2019) · British Journal of Educational Technology · doi:10.1111/bjet.12881 · Cited by 13
Scott, L. M., & Fortune, C. (2013) · European Journal of Engineering Education · doi:10.1080/03043797.2013.766675 · Cited by 13
Mental toughness in higher education: exploring the roles of flow and feedback
Clair‐Thompson, H. S., & Devine, L. (2023) · Educational Psychology · doi:10.1080/01443410.2023.2205622 · Cited by 12
Breslin, D. (2019) · Studies in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/03075079.2019.1688283 · Cited by 13
Using feedforward to improve pre-service teachers’ academic writing and critical thinking skills
Baroudi, S., Aoun, S., & Hamam, D. (2023) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2023.1126594 · Cited by 25
Reid, S., & Spencer‐Oatey, H. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203098035-11 · Cited by 12
Agile projects to foster cooperative learning in heterogeneous classes
Kastl, P., & Romeike, R. (2018) · IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) · doi:10.1109/educon.2018.8363364 · Cited by 12
Providing assessment feedback to pre-service teachers: a study of examiners’ comments
Adalberon, E. Y. (2020) · Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/02602938.2020.1795081 · Cited by 12
Enhancing Assessment Feedback Practices in Accounting Education: issues, obstacles and reforms
O’Connell, B., Ferguson, C. B., Lange, P. D., Howieson, B. A., Watty, K., Carr, R. A., Jacobsen, B., Campitelli, L., Gora, Y., & Milton, A. (2010) · ResearchOnline - JCU (James Cook University) · Cited by 12
Hoomanfard, M. H. (2024) · Assessing Writing · doi:10.1016/j.asw.2024.100891 · Cited by 11
Xuan, H., & He, G. (2025) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115333 · Cited by 13
Conaghan, P., & Lockey, A. S. (2009) · Notfall + Rettungsmedizin · doi:10.1007/s10049-009-1222-1 · Cited by 11
From the informative feedback to the generative feedback
Rossi, P. G., Pentucci, M., Fedeli, L., Giannandrea, L., & Pennazio, V. (2019) · EDUCATION SCIENCES AND SOCIETY · doi:10.3280/ess2-2018oa7102 · Cited by 11
Tapia-Ladino, M., Gutiérrez, B. M. A., & Pérez, R. C. C. (2016) · Universitas Psychologica · doi:10.11144/javeriana.upsy15-4.rcec · Cited by 11
Structured peer review using a custom assessment program for electrical engineering students
Mirmotahari, O., & Berg, Y. (2018) · IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) · doi:10.1109/educon.2018.8363339 · Cited by 11
Teachers’ written feedback comments on narrative texts in Elementary and Secondary Education
Fustes, M. L., Sánchez, M. J. F., & Montanero, M. (2018) · Studies In Educational Evaluation · doi:10.1016/j.stueduc.2018.07.002 · Cited by 13
Perceptions of practical knowledge of learning and feedback among academic teachers
Thurlings, M. C. G., & van Diggelen, M. (2019) · European Journal of Engineering Education · doi:10.1080/03043797.2019.1677559 · Cited by 16
Hill, L., & Edwards, F. (2019) · Assessment Matters · doi:10.18296/am.0036 · Cited by 11
Pakistani Higher Degree students' Views of Feedback on Assessment: Qualitative study
Kashif, M., Rehman, A. U., Mustafa, Z. B., & Basharat, S. (2014) · The International Journal of Management Education · doi:10.1016/j.ijme.2014.03.004 · Cited by 11
Wang, S., & Hew, K. F. (2026) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2026.105621 · Cited by 15
Tutoria: a software platform to improve feedback in education
Falcão, T. P., Arêdes, V., de Souza, S. B. J., Fiorentino, G., Neto, R., Alves, G., & Mello, R. F. (2023) · Journal on Interactive Systems · doi:10.5753/jis.2023.3247 · Cited by 10
Rasool, U., Qian, J., & Aslam, M. Z. (2024) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440241256562 · Cited by 17
Going beyond ‘received and understood’ as a way of conceptualising feedback
Ajjawi, R. (2012) · Medical Education · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2923.2012.04347.x · Cited by 10
Leger, L. A., Kenjegalieva, K. A., Katsiampa, P., Liu, S., & Sirichand, K. (2015) · Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/02602938.2015.1109054 · Cited by 10
Student Utilisation of Feedback: A Cyclical Model
Pitt, E. (2016) · The enabling power of assessment · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-3045-1_10 · Cited by 10
feedback: critiquing practice, moving forward
Williams, H., & Smith, N. J. (2016) · European Political Science · doi:10.1057/eps.2015.99 · Cited by 9
Making assessment accessible: a student–staff partnership perspective
Lorber, P., Rooney, S., & van der Enden, M. (2019) · Higher Education Pedagogies · doi:10.1080/23752696.2019.1695524 · Cited by 9
EFL supervisors’ written feedback focus and language functions: a mixed methods study
Gedamu, A. D., & Gezahegn, T. H. (2021) · Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education · doi:10.1186/s40862-021-00125-2 · Cited by 9
Mountain, K., Teviotdale, W. W., Duxbury, J., & Oldroyd, J. (2022) · Accounting Education · doi:10.1080/09639284.2022.2030240 · Cited by 13
Denton, P., & Rowe, P. (2014) · Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/02602938.2014.970124 · Cited by 9
ASSET: moving forward through feedback
Crook, A. C., Park, J. R., Lawson, C. S., Lundqvist, K. Ø., Drinkwater, R., Walsh, J., Gomez, S., Orsmond, P., & Maw, S. J. (2010) · Cited by 9
Lombard, B. J. J. (2011) · The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa · Cited by 9
Critical Thinking through a Reflexive Platform
Montebello, M., Cope, B., Kalantzis, M., Tzirides, A. O., Haniya, S., Amina, T., Searsmith, D., Zhao, N., & Chen, M. (2018) · International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET) · doi:10.1109/ithet.2018.8424778 · Cited by 9
Marshall, D. T., Love, S. M., & Scott, L. A. (2020) · International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning · doi:10.20429/ijsotl.2020.140110 · Cited by 9
Diversitätsgerecht Lehren und Lernen
Linde, F., & Auferkorte-Michaelis, N. (2014) · Management-Reihe Corporate Social Responsibility · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-55233-5_6 · Cited by 9
The Role of Verbal Peer Feedback in the Police: A Scoping Review
Dahl, O., Damen, M., Bjørkelo, B., Meling, C. P., & Jensen, M. R. (2023) · Vocations and Learning · doi:10.1007/s12186-023-09316-z · Cited by 8
Rose, S. E., Taylor, L., & Jones, S. E. (2024) · Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/02602938.2024.2390933 · Cited by 8
Unheard and unused: why students reject teacher and peer feedback
Lipnevich, A. A., Lopera-Oquendo, C., Tomazin, L., Gutterman, J., & Florentin, C. (2025) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2025.1567704 · Cited by 8
Mansour, H. F. (2015) · The International Journal of Management Education · doi:10.1016/j.ijme.2015.05.004 · Cited by 8
Development of the Student Perceptions of Writing Feedback Scale
Marrs, S. A. (2016) · VCU Scholars Compass (Virginia Commonwealth University) · doi:10.25772/bewy-bg19 · Cited by 8
The Role of Assessment in “Writing in the Disciplines”
Harrington, K. (2011) · doi:10.1007/978-0-230-34451-8_4 · Cited by 7
Couturier, J., & Sklavounos, N. S. (2019) · International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management · doi:10.1108/ijppm-09-2017-0238 · Cited by 8
Academic identities and their deployment within tutorials
Harness, S., & Boyd, P. (2021) · International Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2021.101777 · Cited by 10
Written Corrective Feedback in Online Writing Classrooms: EFL Students’ Perceptions and Preferences
(2022) · International Journal of English Language Teaching · doi:10.37745/ijelt.13/vol10no1pp.12-35 · Cited by 8
Using a Clean Feedback Model to Facilitate the Learning Process
Walsh, B., Nixon, S., Walker, C., & Doyle, N. (2015) · Creative Education · doi:10.4236/ce.2015.610097 · Cited by 9
Doctoral Students' Perceived Needs and Preferences for Supervisors' Written Feedback
Nurie, Y. (2018) · PASAA · doi:10.58837/chula.pasaa.56.1.6 · Cited by 8
Structuring Formative Feedback in an Online Graphics Design Course in BME
Joshi, R. V., Ghosh, S., Simileysky, A., & Bhanot, M. (2021) · Biomedical Engineering Education · doi:10.1007/s43683-021-00046-z · Cited by 7
Written feedback as interaction: Knowledge exchange or activity exchange?
Wharton, S. (2013) · Student Success · doi:10.5204/intjfyhe.v4i1.133 · Cited by 7
Academic Staff Perceptions of the Role and Utility of Written Feedback on Students' Written Work
Bailey, R. P. (2008) · Cited by 7
Learning in the Science Lab: a New Approach
Dunne, J. (2012) · Arrow - TU Dublin (Technological University Dublin) · doi:10.21427/d7jf0n · Cited by 7
Use of Feed-forward Mechanisms in a Novel Research-led Module
Morrell, L. J. (2013) · Bioscience Education · doi:10.11120/beej.2013.00020 · Cited by 7
Social Inclusion and Higher Education
Tomlinson, S., & Basit, T. N. (2014) · Policy Press eBooks · doi:10.51952/9781847427984 · Cited by 9
The Early Clinical Exposure Experience Motivates First Year MBBS Students: A Study
Chari, S. T. (2015) · International Journal of Educational Sciences · doi:10.31901/24566322.2015/08.02.17 · Cited by 7
Elevers användande av formativ återkoppling i matematik
Green, J. (2014) · Studies in science and technology education · doi:10.3384/lic.diva-114525 · Cited by 8
Alibakhshi, G., & Sharakipour, H. (2014) · Cited by 7
Connecting data with student support actions in a course
Pardo, A., Martínez‐Maldonado, R., Shum, S. B., Schulte, J. B., McIntyre, S., Gašević, D., Gao, J. P., & Siemens, G. (2017) · International Conference on Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK) · doi:10.1145/3027385.3029441 · Cited by 6
Waddell, C. (2004) · IRL - University of Missouri, St. Louis (University of Missouri–St. Louis) · Cited by 6
‘I was really upset and it put me off’:
Holmes, A. G. D. (2023) · Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice · doi:10.56433/jpaap.v11i2.529 · Cited by 8
Mutekwe, E. (2014) · Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) · doi:10.11591/edulearn.v8i4.381 · Cited by 6
Commodification of higher education in accounting: a Marxist perspective
Milton, A., & O'Connell, B. T. (2009) · International Journal of Critical Accounting · doi:10.1504/ijca.2009.027317 · Cited by 6
The Case of Screencast Feedback: Barriers to the Use of Learning Technology
Soden, B. (2017) · Innovative practice in higher education · Cited by 6
Dahlen, O., Lervik, A., Aarøen, O., Cabriolu, R., Lyng, R., & van Erp, T. S. (2020) · Computer Applications in Engineering Education · doi:10.1002/cae.22249 · Cited by 6
Rethinking the Uses of Assessment in the Second Language Classroom
Muñoz, A. P. (2017) · Magis Revista Internacional de Investigación en Educación · doi:10.11144/javeriana.m9-19.ruas · Cited by 7
The Case for One-to-One Academic Advice for Students
Turner, J. D. (2011) · doi:10.1007/978-0-230-36505-6_8 · Cited by 6
Feedback 2.0: An Investigation into Using Sharable Feedback Tags as Programming Feedback
Cummins, S. (2010) · Durham e-Theses (Durham University) · Cited by 6
Effect of Feedback with Video-based Peer Modeling on Learning and Self-efficacy
Eghterafi, W., Tucker, M. C., Zhang, I., & Son, J. Y. (2022) · Online Learning · doi:10.24059/olj.v26i2.2732 · Cited by 8
Avaliação e feedback no ensino superior: um estudio na Universidade do Minho
Diana, R.-P., & Maria, A.-F. (2013) · Revista Iberoamericana de Educación Superior · doi:10.1016/s2007-2872(13)71923-1 · Cited by 6
Assessment and emotion in higher education: the allure of blogging
Christie, H., & Morris, N. (2021) · Research in Post-Compulsory Education · doi:10.1080/13596748.2021.1909922 · Cited by 5
E-portfolio as an academic writing assessment tool in higher education: Strengths and challenges
Ngui, W. Y. X., Pang, V., & Hiew, W. (2022) · Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics · doi:10.17509/ijal.v12i2.40122 · Cited by 5
Vaughan, N. D. (2013) · Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology · doi:10.21432/t2rg6x · Cited by 5
Dialogue by design: Creating a dialogic feedback cycle using assessment rubrics
Gibbs, G. (2014) · Murdoch University Research Portal · Cited by 5
Castle, P. (2008) · Journal of Hospitality Leisure Sport & Tourism Education · doi:10.3794/johlste.71.151 · Cited by 5
Individual face-to-face tutorials: the value in nurse education
Nathan, M. (2015) · British Journal of Nursing · doi:10.12968/bjon.2015.24.3.162 · Cited by 5
Community of Inquiry Framework, Digital Technologies, and Student Assessment in Higher Education
Vaughan, N. D. (2012) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-2110-7.ch016 · Cited by 5
Ryan, T., Henderson, M., & Phillips, M. (2020) · Technology Pedagogy and Education · doi:10.1080/1475939x.2020.1744479 · Cited by 13
Dialogue in the studio: Supporting comprehension in studio-based architectural design tutorials
Tahsiri, M. (2020) · Art Design & Communication in Higher Education · doi:10.1386/adch_00020_1 · Cited by 5
Mchunu, S. P. (2015) · International Journal of Educational Sciences · doi:10.31901/24566322.2015/08.02.11 · Cited by 5
What did I get Wrong? Supporting the Feedback Process in Computer Science Education
Falcão, T. P., Arêdes, V., Wagner, S. S., Uchoa, J. P. C., Luisi, V., & Mello, R. F. (2022) · Anais do Workshop sobre Educação em Computação (WEI) · doi:10.5753/wei.2022.223150 · Cited by 5
Dental Teacher Feedback and Student Learning: A Qualitative Study
Fine, P. D., Leung, A., Tonni, I., & Louca, C. (2023) · Dentistry Journal · doi:10.3390/dj11070164 · Cited by 5
Jeria, H., & Villalón, J. (2017) · IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT) · doi:10.1109/icalt.2017.154 · Cited by 5
Feedback Assisted by Technology: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research
Huang, W., Stephens, J. M., & Brown, G. (2025) · International Journal of Technology in Education · doi:10.46328/ijte.1061 · Cited by 7
Spicing up Undergraduate Collaborative Writing Course through Feedback Dialogues
Alqefari, A. N. (2022) · International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research · doi:10.26803/ijlter.21.9.15 · Cited by 4
Self-efficacy, feedback and feedforward
Cowan, J. (2015) · Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education · doi:10.47408/jldhe.v0i9.313 · Cited by 4
A dialogical approach to developing professional competence in assessment
Lorenzi, F., & Rami, J. (2012) · Dublin City University Open Access Institutional Repository (Dublin City University) · Cited by 4
Individuell «automagisk» tilbakemelding på skriftlig eksamen
Mirmotahari, O., & Berg, Y. (2017) · Nordic Journal of STEM Education · doi:10.5324/njsteme.v1i1.2327 · Cited by 4
THE INFLUENCE OF WRITTEN FEEDBACK ON THE WRITING SKILL PERFORMANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Bonsu, E. M. (2021) · International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences · doi:10.51594/ijarss.v3i3.234 · Cited by 4
Assessment Feedback to Accounting Students
Isa, R. M., & Azero, M. A. (2013) · Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.07.137 · Cited by 4
Improving the assessment feedback experience: a case study
Jackson, M. (2012) · Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences · doi:10.11120/elss.2012.04030012 · Cited by 4
Sand in the Machine: Encouraging Academic Activism with Sociology HE Students Today
Canaan, J. E. (2010) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9780230274877_13 · Cited by 4
Olave-Encina, K. (2019) · International Journal of Inclusive Education · doi:10.1080/13603116.2019.1698063 · Cited by 4
Saliu-Abdulahi, D., & Hellekjær, G. O. (2020) · Acta Didactica Norden · doi:10.5617/adno.8299 · Cited by 4
Whitelock, D. M., Pintó, R., & Saez, M. L. (2010) · International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning · doi:10.1504/ijceell.2010.036815 · Cited by 4
Should Students Have the Power to Change Course Structure?
McDonnell, G. P., & Dodd, M. D. (2017) · Teaching of Psychology · doi:10.1177/0098628317692604 · Cited by 4
Jones, D., & Ellison, L. (2020) · The Law Teacher · doi:10.1080/03069400.2020.1729012 · Cited by 4
Wathieu, L., Muthukrishnan, A. V., & Bronnenberg, B. J. (2004) · Cited by 4
Metadata
- Authors
- Higgins, R., Hartley, P., & Skelton, A.
- ORCID
- Higgins, Richard
- Venue
- Teaching in Higher Education
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2001-04
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 269-274
- ISSN
- 1356-2517 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1294
- OpenAlex
- W1994469296
- Cited by
- 549
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 93 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 20.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Teaching in Higher Education (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Student Assessment and Feedback
- Social Sciences › Education › Evaluation of Teaching Practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
- Keywords
- assessment feedback, feedback communication, student responses to feedback, discourse, student identity, university teaching
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review