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The power of a simple verbal explanation: Evaluating the efficacy of narrated feedback

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  • Chiang, Eric P.
  • Vazquez, Jose J.

Abstract

The explosion of online resources has changed the way assessments are designed and implemented. Students learn more when they have an opportunity to review their mistakes, an objective to which online homework systems contribute substantially. But the effectiveness of online assessments depends on the ability to obtain feedback, which often comes in the form of automated written explanations. This paper tests the efficacy of an alternative form of feedback: narrated feedback, consisting of short narrated videos providing verbal and visual explanations of a specific concept. We conduct a field experiment in a large enrollment microeconomic principles course in which students are randomly assigned to either a control group that received no feedback or a treatment group receiving either written or narrated feedback. We provide evidence that students with access to narrated feedback scored on average up to 10.1% higher on assessment questions relative to those with access to written or no feedback.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiang, Eric P. & Vazquez, Jose J., 2017. "The power of a simple verbal explanation: Evaluating the efficacy of narrated feedback," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 25-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ireced:v:25:y:2017:i:c:p:25-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2017.04.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brendan Kennelly & John Considine & Darragh Flannery, 2011. "Online Assignments in Economics: A Test of Their Effectiveness," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 136-146, June.
    2. Troy C. Blanchard & Charles Tolbert & Carson Mencken, 2011. "The health and wealth of US counties: how the small business environment impacts alternative measures of development," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 5(1), pages 149-162.
    3. repec:wly:soecon:v:82:3:y:2016:p:1021-1038 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. William B. Walstad, 2001. "Improving Assessment in University Economics," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(3), pages 281-294, January.
    5. William L. Goffe & David Kauper, 2014. "A Survey of Principles Instructors: Why Lecture Prevails," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 360-375, December.
    6. Vazquez, Jose J. & Chiang, Eric P., 2014. "A picture is worth a thousand words (at least): The effective use of visuals in the economics classroom," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 109-119.
    7. Chiara Gratton-Lavoie & Denise Stanley, 2009. "Teaching and Learning Principles of Microeconomics Online: An Empirical Assessment," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 3-25, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic education; Online assessment; Feedback; Active learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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