Thinking Beyond Writing Development in Peer Review

Abstract

The benefits of a peer review process tend to be evaluated in terms of improvements to students' writing. But are there reasons why instructors might want to implement peer review into their courses over and above writing development? In this study, we collected data from 30 university students on their perceptions of a peer review process. Although we found little revision of student work from draft to final paper, we were surprised to learn that students found the process useful. We found that the peer review process helped students develop non-cognitive skills. In particular, it helped them to develop (a) self-discipline, which helped with their time management, and (b) resilience in overcoming anxiety, which helped them to integrate in a social network.Les avantages du processus d'évaluation par les pairs a tendance à être évalué en termes d'amélioration des capacités de rédaction des étudiants. Mais y a-t-il des raisons pour lesquelles les instructeurs aimeraient se livrer à l'évaluation par les pairs dans leurs cours pour en dériver des avantages qui vont au-delà du développement des compétences en rédaction? Dans cette étude, nous avons recueilli des données de 30 étudiants d'universités sur leurs perceptions d'un processus d'évaluation par les pairs. Bien que nous ayons trouvé peu de révisions dans les travaux des étudiants entre le premier jet et la version finale, nous avons été surpris d'apprendre que les étudiants avaient trouvé le processus utile. Nous avons découvert que le processus d'évaluation par les pairs avait aidé les étudiants à développer des compétences non cognitives. En particulier, cela les a aidés a) à développer une auto-discipline, qui les a aidés à gérer leur temps et b) à acquérir de la résilience pour surmonter l'anxiété, ce qui les a aidés à s'intégrer dans un réseau social.

Classroom Assessment as Co-Regulated Learning: A Systematic Review

“…Adaptive behaviors include revision, information seeking (Llorens et al, 2016), help seeking (Fletcher, 2018), analyzing and correcting errors, doing supplementary exercises, annotating text, selecting and using study strategies (Gezer-Templeton et al, 2017), and referring to standards (Lerdpornkulrat et al, 2019). A study by Chaktsiris and Southworth (2019) serves as a reminder that feedback does not always influence behavior as intended: They found that peer review led to little revision of student work from draft to final paper but students found the process useful in terms of the development of self-discipline that helped with time management and in overcoming anxiety.…”

Towards Understanding Teacher Mentoring, Learner WCF Beliefs, and Learner Revision Practices Through Peer Review Feedback: A Sociocultural Perspective

“…Specifically, peer review is an important instructional activity to raise learners' awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, and promote collaborative learning (Chang, 2012). If students master peer review skills, they can figure out peers' writing issues and also improve their own writing skills (Chaktsiris & Southworth, 2019;Law & Baer, 2020;Woodhouse & Wood, 2022). Peer review research has thus attracted much attention in literacy or writing education (Cho & Schunn, 2007), and second language writing education (Bui & Kong, 2019;Sánchez-Naranjo, 2019).…”

Asynchronous Peer Review Feedback in an Undergraduate Nursing Course

“…In their systematic review of peer learning in nursing education, Stone et al 10 link peer learning activities such as peer review to increases in student confidence and competence and decreases in anxiety. Neilsen 5 and Chaktsiris and Southworth 11 point to peer review's limitations in prompting revision but conclude peer review can support other valuable aspects of learning and development such as self-assessment, time management, organization, and peer connection. Schlisselberg and Moscou 12 connect peer review to improvements in final grade and writing quality.…”

“…These studies indicate that peer review can improve self-assessment, time management, connection, final grades in courses, and writing quality. 5,11,12 The literature raises the importance of continuing to explore the potential of peer review, especially when delivered online.…”

“…Although most of these studies discuss in-person peer review, Kastman Breuch13 and Neal et al14 highlight the distinct advantages of conducting peer review online: more flexible reviewing environment, individualized timing, and increased accessibility for students with neurodiversities, such as anxiety and processing disorders. These studies indicate that peer review can improve self-assessment, time management, connection, final grades in courses, and writing quality 5,11,12. The literature raises the importance of continuing to explore the potential of peer review, especially when delivered online.…”