A systematic review of the key components of online peer feedback practices in higher education

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature acknowledging peer feedback as a crucial learning practice in online settings. However, the literature is sparse and lacks an overall picture of the variety of key components for the successful implementation of peer feedback practices in online settings. To address this gap, we built our systematic literature review on the MISCA model, which is a well-known theoretical framework for evaluating feedback practices. This model outlines five components to evaluate feedback practices, including content, function, student characteristics, presentation, and source. Based on this model, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on online peer feedback practices in higher education, with a focus on the role of content, function, student characteristics, presentation, and source. A thorough search was conducted across three databases (Scopus, ERIC, and Web of Science), resulting in the analysis of 73 articles published between 2000 and 2022. The main results of this review indicate that cognitive feedback comments were the most frequently identified content in online peer feedback studies. Regarding function, most studies used peer feedback in function to improve students' task performance. Less than a quarter of the reviewed studies evaluated the role of individual student characteristics, while students’ ability level and gender were the most explored factors. Rubrics and training were the most frequently implemented presentation modes of the online peer feedback studies. Only six studies combined feedback from peers with feedback from other sources. Overall, our findings make a valuable contribution to the literature by offering a comprehensive overview of the recent research on key components that impact online peer feedback practices in higher education. They also illuminate several potential interrelations that influence the implementation and effectiveness of online peer feedback practices. These findings can inspire instructors, practitioners, and scholars to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of peer feedback and how to make better use of it, thus fostering the effectiveness of their educational practices.