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The use of informational feedback in instruction: Implications for future research

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Abstract

The use of informational feedback has long been advocated and verified as being an important part of learning. Many studies have been conducted to examine which variables might affect learning from feedback. The purpose of this review is to examine these studies within various constructs and identify areas that need further investigation and clarification. Feedback is examined from early studies, which viewed the process behaviorally as reinforcement, to present research that advocates an information-processing perspective and an emphasis on error correction. A current model of feedback (Kulhavy & Stock, 1989) is presented as a context for discussion. The issues of response certainty, feedback elaboration, and error analysis are also addressed. Recommendations to future researchers are presented in light of conclusions drawn.

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When this article was written, she was a Visiting Research Associate at the Center for Educational Technology at Florida State University.

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Mory, E.H. The use of informational feedback in instruction: Implications for future research. ETR&D 40, 5–20 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02296839

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