Cited by 571Student Assessment and FeedbackVisual and Cognitive Learning ProcessesMemory Processes and Influences

Feedback in Written Instruction

Kulhavy, Raymond W.·1977·Review of Educational Research

Abstract

When students respond to an instructional communication, telling them whether or not their answer is correct increases the amount of material remembered on a later test (Anderson, Kulhavy, & Andre, 1971; Gilman, 1969; Meyer, 1960). Unfortunately, the mechanisms responsible for such facilitation are frequently misunderstood, and one can find numerous examples in both research and instructional development where feedback is used inappropriately, neutralizing any positive effects it might have on student performance. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an integration of the work done on feedback processes, especially as these results apply to written lessons and the design of instructional materials. Finally, this discussion makes no attempt to cover the more task specific literature dealing with motor learning, simple concept acquisition, or paired-associates, since excellent reviews already exist in these areas (Adams, 1968; Ammons, 1956; Bilodeau, 1966; Bourne, 1966; Renner, 1964).

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Crossref · 10.3102/00346543047002211

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  • Feedback that immediately supplies learners with correct answers can be limiting; once answers are revealed, learners often disengage from deep thinking and simply copy the solutions.

    “However, feedback that immediately supplies learners with correct answers can be limiting for many learners. Once answers are revealed, learners often disengage from deep thinking and simply copy the solutions (Kulhavy, 1977), a tendency that is especially detrimental to learners' agency in problem-solving contexts.”
  • Immediate provision of correct answers may encourage students to copy the answer without fully engaging in understanding.

    “During the learning process, immediate provision of correct answers may encourage students to copy the answer without fully engaging in understanding (Kulhavy, 1977).”

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Authors
Kulhavy, R. W.
Affiliations
Arizona State University (US)
Corresponding author
Kulhavy, Raymond W.
Venue
Review of Educational Research
Published
1977-06
Volume
47
Issue
2
Pages
211-232
ISSN
  • 0034-6543 (ISSN-L)
  • 1935-1046
OpenAlex
W2158692302
Cited by
571
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 21
FWCI
89.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Review of Educational Research (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Student Assessment and Feedback
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
feedback, written instructions, instructional materials development, student performance, memory retention, learning facilitation, feedback mechanisms, instructional communication

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