Constructive Feedback, Learning Motivation and Academic Achievement in Chemistry Subject: Qualitative Experiences from Classroom Intervention

Abstract

The study aimed to explore headmistress, teachers, and students' perceptions about constructive feedback before and after the intervention. A true experimental research design was used for the intervention to measure the effects of constructive feedback. One headmistress and three Chemistry subject teachers were interviewed, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with five experimental group students before and after the intervention. A semi-structured interview schedule and FGD guidelines were used to collect the data. Data were collected twice to find out the differences in opinions/perceptions before and after the intervention. Results support that constructive feedback practices increase students' performance and motivation towards Chemistry. Students' self-efficacy and self-regulation skills also developed among students after the intervention. Constructive feedback was also found effective for the low-score achievers to increase their performance in Chemistry. It is recommended that constructive feedback should be incorporated in daily formative assessment practices in the classroom setting.