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Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature 2016-2021

This literature review is part of a six-month longitudinal project for the Connect Benefit Series 2021-22 on Student Success, which focuses on assessment and feedback, as well as other themes of employability, access, retention, attainment and progression, and flexible learning.

Conducted by Edd Pitt, PhD SFHEA, and Kathleen M Quinlan, PhD PFHEA, from the University of Kent, the review explores evidence from peer-reviewed journal articles relating to assessment and feedback in higher education published from 2016 to 2021. The review highlights evidence-based assessment and feedback policies or practices that have had a demonstrable impact on key student outcomes including performance, engagement and satisfaction, and prompts a rethinking of traditional views of assessment and feedback.

Advance HE members can access the literature review, a searchable dataset and an infographic exploring the research methods below.

Find out more about the Connect Benefit Series during 2021-22 here.

How do you get from 3,091 articles about assessment, feedback and peer feedback in higher education to 21 recommendations in four months? In this blog the authors Dr Edd Pitt and Professor Kathleen M Quinlan reflect on their processes, the decisions they took along the way, and how they overcame four key challenges. 

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Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature 2016-2021
19/05/2022
Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature 2016-2021 View Document
Dataset: Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature2016-2021
19/05/2022
Dataset: Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature2016-2021 View Document
Infographic: Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature2016-2021
19/05/2022
Infographic: Impacts of higher education assessment and feedback policy and practice on students: a review of the literature2016-2021 View Document

Assessment and feedback events

Webinar Thursday 9 June at 07.00-08.30 and 15.00-16.30 BST

The authors of the literature review,Professor Kathleen M Quinlan and Dr Edd Pitt of the University of Kent, discuss the key findings and will participate in a Q&A session on the review, thematic area and broader findings.

Assessment and feedback summit  Monday 13 June 15.00 BST/Monday 20 June 10.00 BST/Wednesday 29 June 07.00 BST

The summit is an interactive event specifically designed to gather colleagues’ views and perceptions of the review.

All colleagues at Advance HE member institutions can attend both events free of charge.

Find out more