A scoping review of feedback in physical education: Conceptualisations and the role of teachers and students

Abstract

Given the important role of feedback in student learning, this scoping review investigated how feedback has been conceptualised and examined, and how the teacher and student have been positioned in feedback processes in physical education (PE) research. Following recommended processes for conducting a scoping review, 110 papers were included, and data were extracted and synthesised to address the aim. Findings identified a lack of conceptual and theoretical underpinnings, and considerable variability in feedback terminology used in PE. Feedback was mainly positioned as being transmitted verbally from the teacher to the student to evaluate performances. Research methods mainly focused on the teacher's feedback behaviours, with less attention given to how the student receives, interprets, and uses feedback to advance their learning. Based on the findings, we recommend that future feedback research in PE is underpinned by theory and frameworks that acknowledge the active role of both the teacher and the student in the feedback process. Additionally, given the critical element of feedback effectiveness is not in the provision of feedback, but how it is interpreted and used, research methods that further consider how students engage with feedback opportunities are required. If we are to maximise feedback's learning potential, future PE research and practices should consider how students can be further activated in the feedback process.