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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Feedback (Comments vs. grades)

Overview

  • Influence: Feedback (Comments vs. grades)
  • Domain: Teaching Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Feedback
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: The effects of comments or grades to improve learning.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 3
  • Number of studies: 27
  • Number of students: NA
  • Number of effects: 103
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.21
  • Robustness index: 2

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Educational Psychology Koenka, Linnenbrink-Garcia, Moshontz, Atkinson, Sanchez, & Cooper A meta-analysis on the impact of grades and comments on academic motivation and achievement: a case for written feedback 2021 Grades vs no feedback 12 NA 25 0.25
Educational Psychology Koenka, Linnenbrink-Garcia, Moshontz, Atkinson, Sanchez, & Cooper A meta-analysis on the impact of grades and comments on academic motivation and achievement: a case for written feedback 2021 Comments & grades vs grades only 7 NA 7 0.04
Educational Psychology Koenka, Linnenbrink-Garcia, Moshontz, Atkinson, Sanchez, & Cooper A meta-analysis on the impact of grades and comments on academic motivation and achievement: a case for written feedback 2021 Comments vs. grades 8 NA 71 0.30
TOTAL/AVERAGE 27 NA 103 0.20
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