Persisting students' explanations of and emotional responses to academic failure
Article
Ajjawi, R., Dracup, M., Zacharias, N., Bennett, S. and Boud, D. 2020. Persisting students' explanations of and emotional responses to academic failure. Higher Education Research & Development. 39 (2), pp. 185-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1664999
| Type | Article |
|---|---|
| Title | Persisting students' explanations of and emotional responses to academic failure |
| Authors | Ajjawi, R., Dracup, M., Zacharias, N., Bennett, S. and Boud, D. |
| Abstract | Academic failure is an important and personal event in the lives of university students, and the ways they make sense of experiences of failure matters for their persistence and future success. Academic failure contributes to attrition, yet the extent of this contribution and precipitating factors of failure are not well understood. To illuminate this world-wide problem, we analysed institutional data at a large, comprehensive Australian university and surveyed 186 undergraduate students who had failed at least one unit of study in 2016, but were still enrolled in 2017. Academic failure increased the likelihood of course attrition by 4.2 times. The students who failed and persisted attributed academic failure to a confluence of dispositional, situational, and institutional factors. There was a compounded effect of academic failure on already-vulnerable students resulting in strong negative emotions. Viewing persistence as an interaction between individuals and their sociocultural milieu opens up different avenues for research and considerations for support. |
| Keywords | Failure; persistence; higher education; attrition; support; undergraduate |
| Research Group | Work and Learning Research Centre |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) |
| Journal | Higher Education Research & Development |
| ISSN | 0729-4360 |
| Electronic | 1469-8366 |
| Publication dates | |
| Online | 09 Oct 2019 |
| 23 Feb 2020 | |
| Publication process dates | |
| Deposited | 29 Jun 2020 |
| Accepted | 26 Apr 2019 |
| Output status | Published |
| Publisher's version | License |
| Copyright Statement | © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1664999 |
| Web of Science identifier | WOS:000489360100001 |
| Language | English |
Permalink -
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/88zz7
Download files
Publisher's version
117
total views40
total downloads5
views this month6
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
The roles of reflection in professional practice doctorates
Cranfield, S., Boud, D. and Costley, C. 2025. The roles of reflection in professional practice doctorates. in: Hallett, F. (ed.) Debates in Doctoral Education: Challenges and Opportunities London, UK Routledge.Authentic assessment training for university teachers
Villarroel, V., Bruna, D., Bruna, C., Brown, G. and Boud, D. 2024. Authentic assessment training for university teachers. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. 31 (2), pp. 116-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594x.2024.2350395How does assessment drive learning? A focus on students' development of evaluative judgement
Fischer, J., Bearman, M., Boud, D. and Tai, J. 2024. How does assessment drive learning? A focus on students' development of evaluative judgement. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 49 (2), pp. 233-245. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2206986Measuring what learners do in feedback: the feedback literacy behaviour scale
Dawson, P., Yan, Z., Lipnevich, A., Tai, J., Boud, D. and Mahoney, P. 2023. Measuring what learners do in feedback: the feedback literacy behaviour scale. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2240983A comparative analysis of the skilled use of automated feedback tools through the lens of teacher feedback literacy
Buckingham Shum, S., Lim, L.-A., Boud, D., Bearman, M. and Dawson, P. 2023. A comparative analysis of the skilled use of automated feedback tools through the lens of teacher feedback literacy. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 20 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00410-9Characteristics of productive feedback encounters in online learning
Jensen, L.X., Bearman, M. and Boud, D. 2023. Characteristics of productive feedback encounters in online learning. Teaching in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2023.2213168Changing representations of student achievement: the need for innovation
Ajjawi, R. and Boud, D. 2023. Changing representations of student achievement: the need for innovation. Innovations in Education and Teaching International. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2192513Can students' feedback literacy be improved? A scoping review of interventions
Little, T., Dawson, P., Boud, D. and Tai, J. 2023. Can students' feedback literacy be improved? A scoping review of interventions. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2177613Reassessing assessment: what can post stroke aphasia assessment learn from research on assessment in education?
Hersh, D. and Boud, D. 2023. Reassessing assessment: what can post stroke aphasia assessment learn from research on assessment in education? Aphasiology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2022.2163462The pivotal role of student assessment in work-integrated learning
Boud, D., Costley, C., Cranfield, S., Desai, J., Nikolou-Walker, E., Nottingham, P. and Wilson, D. 2023. The pivotal role of student assessment in work-integrated learning. Higher Education Research & Development. 42 (6), pp. 1323-1337. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2022.2152981Assessment for inclusion: rethinking contemporary strategies in assessment design
Tai, J., Ajjawi, R., Bearman, M., Boud, D., Dawson, P. and Jorre de St Jorre, T. 2023. Assessment for inclusion: rethinking contemporary strategies in assessment design. Higher Education Research & Development. 42 (2), pp. 483-497. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2022.2057451Feedback encounters: towards a framework for analysing and understanding feedback processes
Jensen, L.X., Bearman, M. and Boud, D. 2023. Feedback encounters: towards a framework for analysing and understanding feedback processes. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 48 (1), pp. 121-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2059446The post‐COVID‐19 future of digital learning in higher education: views from educators, students, and other professionals in six countries
Guppy, N., Verpoorten, D., Boud, D., Lin, L., Tai, J. and Bartolic, S. 2022. The post‐COVID‐19 future of digital learning in higher education: views from educators, students, and other professionals in six countries. British Journal of Educational Technology. 53 (6), pp. 1750-1765. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13212Navigating feedback practices across learning contexts: implications for feedback literacy
Malecka, B., Boud, D., Tai, J. and Ajjawi, R. 2022. Navigating feedback practices across learning contexts: implications for feedback literacy. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 47 (8), pp. 1330-1344. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2041544Digital ethnography in higher education teaching and learning—a methodological review
Jensen, L.X., Bearman, M., Boud, D. and Konradsen, F. 2022. Digital ethnography in higher education teaching and learning—a methodological review. Higher Education. 84 (5), pp. 1143-1162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00838-4The effect of self-assessment on academic performance and the role of explicitness: a meta-analysis
Yan, Z., Wang, X., Boud, D. and Lao, H. 2023. The effect of self-assessment on academic performance and the role of explicitness: a meta-analysis. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 48 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2021.2012644Understanding feedback in online learning - A critical review and metaphor analysis
Jensen, L.X., Bearman, M. and Boud, D. 2021. Understanding feedback in online learning - A critical review and metaphor analysis. Computers and Education. 173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104271Fostering student motivation and engagement with feedback through ipsative processes
Malecka, B. and Boud, D. 2023. Fostering student motivation and engagement with feedback through ipsative processes. Teaching in Higher Education. 28 (7), pp. 1761-1776. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2021.1928061Measuring what matters: the positioning of students in feedback processes within national student satisfaction surveys
Winstone, N.E., Ajjawi, R., Dirkx, K. and Boud, D. 2022. Measuring what matters: the positioning of students in feedback processes within national student satisfaction surveys. Studies in Higher Education. 47 (7), pp. 1524-1536. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2021.1916909What feedback literate teachers do: an empirically-derived competency framework
Boud, D. and Dawson, P. 2023. What feedback literate teachers do: an empirically-derived competency framework. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 48 (2), pp. 158-171. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2021.1910928From feedback-as-information to feedback-as-process: a linguistic analysis of the feedback literature
Winstone, N., Boud, D., Dawson, P. and Heron, M. 2022. From feedback-as-information to feedback-as-process: a linguistic analysis of the feedback literature. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 47 (2), pp. 213-230. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2021.1902467Feedback that works: a realist review of feedback interventions for written tasks
Ajjawi, R., Kent, F., Broadbent, J., Tai, J., Bearman, M. and Boud, D. 2022. Feedback that works: a realist review of feedback interventions for written tasks. Studies in Higher Education. 47 (7), pp. 1343-1356. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2021.1894115Hero, survivor or stuck: a narrative analysis of student constructions of persistence after failure
Ajjawi, R., Dracup, M. and Boud, D. 2021. Hero, survivor or stuck: a narrative analysis of student constructions of persistence after failure. Teaching in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2021.1952569El futuro de la evaluación en la educación superior
Ibarra-Saiz, M. S., Rodriguez-Gomez, G., Boud, D., Rotsaert, T., Brown, S., Salinas-Salazar, M. L. and Rodriguez-Gomez, H. M. 2020. El futuro de la evaluación en la educación superior. Revista Electrónica de Investigación y Evaluación Educativa. 26 (1). https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.26.1.17323Retos en la reforma de la evaluación en educación superior: una mirada desde la lejanía
Boud, D. 2020. Retos en la reforma de la evaluación en educación superior: una mirada desde la lejanía. Revista Electrónica de Investigación y Evaluación Educativa. 26 (1). https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.26.1.17088The quality of assessment tasks as a determinant of learning
Soledad Ibarra-Saiz, M., Rodriguez-Gomez, G. and Boud, D. 2021. The quality of assessment tasks as a determinant of learning. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 46 (6), pp. 943-955. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2020.1828268Psychometric properties of the self‐assessment practice scale for professional training contexts: evidence from confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis
Yan, Z., Brubacher, S., Boud, D. and Powell, M. 2020. Psychometric properties of the self‐assessment practice scale for professional training contexts: evidence from confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. International Journal of Training & Development. 24 (4), pp. 357-373. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12201The need to disentangle assessment and feedback in higher education
Winstone, N. and Boud, D. 2022. The need to disentangle assessment and feedback in higher education. Studies in Higher Education. 47 (3), pp. 656-667. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1779687Impacts of a professional practice doctorate: a collaborative enquiry
Boud, D., Costley, C., Marshall, S. and Sutton, B. 2021. Impacts of a professional practice doctorate: a collaborative enquiry. Higher Education Research & Development. 40 (3), pp. 431-445. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1765744Eliciting, processing and enacting feedback: mechanisms for embedding student feedback literacy within the curriculum
Malecka, B., Boud, D. and Carless, D. 2022. Eliciting, processing and enacting feedback: mechanisms for embedding student feedback literacy within the curriculum. Teaching in Higher Education. 27 (7), pp. 908-922. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1754784The development and impact of professional doctorates
Costley, C. and Boud, D. 2021. The development and impact of professional doctorates. in: Malloch, M., Cairns, L., Evans, K. and O'Connor, B. (ed.) The SAGE handbook of learning and work London Sage. pp. 223-238What can higher education learn from feedback seeking behaviour in organisations? Implications for feedback literacy
Joughin, G., Boud, D., Dawson, P. and Tai, J. 2021. What can higher education learn from feedback seeking behaviour in organisations? Implications for feedback literacy. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 46 (1), pp. 80-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2020.1733491Developing student competence through peer assessment: the role of feedback, self-regulation and evaluative judgement
Soledad Ibarra-Saiz, M., Rodriguez-Gomez, G. and Boud, D. 2020. Developing student competence through peer assessment: the role of feedback, self-regulation and evaluative judgement. Higher Education. 80 (1), pp. 137-156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00469-2How do students adapt in response to academic failure?
Ajjawi, Rola, Boud, David, Zacharias, Nadine, Dracup, Mary and Bennett, Sue 2019. How do students adapt in response to academic failure? Student Success. 10 (3), pp. 84-91. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.v10.i3.1403Assessment for distinctiveness: Recognising diversity of accomplishments
de St Jorre, T.J., Boud, D. and Johnson, E.D. 2021. Assessment for distinctiveness: Recognising diversity of accomplishments. Studies in Higher Education. 46 (7), pp. 1371-1382. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1689385Performing standards: A critical perspective on the contemporary use of standards in assessment
Ajjawi, R., Bearman, M. and Boud, D. 2021. Performing standards: A critical perspective on the contemporary use of standards in assessment. Teaching in Higher Education. 26 (5), pp. 728-741. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2019.1678579Conditions that enable effective feedback
Henderson, M., Phillips, M., Ryan, T., Boud, D., Dawson, P., Molloy, E. and Mahoney, P. 2019. Conditions that enable effective feedback. Higher Education Research & Development. 38 (7), pp. 1401-1416. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1657807Developing a learning-centred framework for feedback literacy
Molloy, E., Boud, D. and Henderson, M. 2020. Developing a learning-centred framework for feedback literacy. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 45 (4), pp. 527-540. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1667955The usefulness of feedback
Henderson, M., Ryan, T., Boud, D., Dawson, P., Phillips, M., Molloy, E. and Mahoney, P. 2021. The usefulness of feedback. Active Learning in Higher Education. 22 (3), pp. 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787419872393Aligning assessment with the needs of work-integrated learning: the challenges of authentic assessment in a complex context
Ajjawi, R., Tai, J., Le Huu Nghia, T., Boud, D., Johnson, L. and Patrick, C. 2020. Aligning assessment with the needs of work-integrated learning: the challenges of authentic assessment in a complex context. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 45 (2), pp. 304-316. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1639613Using principles of authentic assessment to redesign written examinations and tests
Villarroel, V., Boud, D., Bloxham, S., Bruna, D. and Bruna, C. 2020. Using principles of authentic assessment to redesign written examinations and tests. Innovations in Education and Teaching International. 57 (1), pp. 38-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2018.1564882Toward a pedagogy for professional noticing: learning through observation
Rooney, D. and Boud, D. 2019. Toward a pedagogy for professional noticing: learning through observation. Vocations and Learning. 12 (3), pp. 441-457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12186-019-09222-3The effects of peer judgements on teamwork and self-assessment ability in collaborative group work
Sridharan, B. and Boud, D. 2019. The effects of peer judgements on teamwork and self-assessment ability in collaborative group work. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 44 (6), pp. 894-909. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1545898Exploring cultures of feedback practice: the adoption of learning-focused feedback practices in the UK and Australia
Winstone, N. and Boud, D. 2019. Exploring cultures of feedback practice: the adoption of learning-focused feedback practices in the UK and Australia. Higher Education Research & Development. 38 (2), pp. 411-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1532985Does the use of summative peer assessment in collaborative group work inhibit good judgement?
Sridharan, B., Tai, J. and Boud, D. 2019. Does the use of summative peer assessment in collaborative group work inhibit good judgement? Higher Education. 77 (5), pp. 853-870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0305-7Using formative assessment to influence self- and co-regulated learning: the role of evaluative judgement
Panadero, E., Broadbent, J., Boud, D. and Lodge, J. 2019. Using formative assessment to influence self- and co-regulated learning: the role of evaluative judgement. European Journal of Psychology of Education. 34 (3), pp. 535-557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-018-0407-8Threats to student evaluative judgement and their management
Joughin, G., Boud, D. and Dawson, P. 2019. Threats to student evaluative judgement and their management. Higher Education Research & Development. 38 (3), pp. 537-549. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1544227Technology and feedback design
Dawson, P., Henderson, M., Ryan, T., Mahoney, P., Boud, D., Phillips, M. and Molloy, E. 2018. Technology and feedback design. in: Spector, J.M., Lockee, B.B. and Childress, M.D. (ed.) Learning, Design, and Technology: An International Compendium of Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy Springer. pp. 1-45The development of student feedback literacy: Enabling uptake of feedback
Carless, D. and Boud, D. 2018. The development of student feedback literacy: Enabling uptake of feedback. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 43 (8), pp. 1315-1325. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1463354What makes for effective feedback: Staff and student perspectives
Dawson, P., Henderson, M., Mahoney, P., Phillips, M., Ryan, T., Boud, D. and Molloy, E. 2019. What makes for effective feedback: Staff and student perspectives. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 44 (1), pp. 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1467877The Influence of professional doctorates on practice and the workplace
Boud, D., Fillery-Travis, A., Pizzolato, N. and Sutton, B. 2018. The Influence of professional doctorates on practice and the workplace. Studies in Higher Education. 43 (5), pp. 914-926. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1438121Examining the nature and effects of feedback dialogue
Ajjawi, R. and Boud, D. 2018. Examining the nature and effects of feedback dialogue. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 43 (7), pp. 1106-1119. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1434128Creating an agenda for developing students' evaluative judgement
Boud, D., Dawson, P., Tai, J. and Ajjawi, R. 2018. Creating an agenda for developing students' evaluative judgement. in: Boud, D., Ajjawi, R., Dawson, P. and Tai, J. (ed.) Developing Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education: Assessment for Knowing and Producing Quality Work London Routledge. pp. 186-195Conceptualising evaluative judgement for sustainable assessment in higher education
Ajjawi, R., Tai, J., Dawson, P. and Boud, D. 2018. Conceptualising evaluative judgement for sustainable assessment in higher education. in: Boud, D., Ajjawi, R., Dawson, P. and Tai, J. (ed.) Developing Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education: Assessment for Knowing and Producing Quality Work London Routledge. pp. 7-17Introduction: what is evaluative judgement?
Dawson, P., Ajjawi, R., Boud, D. and Tai, J. 2018. Introduction: what is evaluative judgement? in: Boud, D., Ajjawi, R., Dawson, P. and Tai, J. (ed.) Developing Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education: Assessment for Knowing and Producing Quality Work London Routledge. pp. 1-4Ensuring assessment builds capacity for future clinical practice: sustainable assessment in action
Ajjawi, R. and Boud, D. 2018. Ensuring assessment builds capacity for future clinical practice: sustainable assessment in action. in: Delany, C. and Molloy, E. (ed.) Learning and Teaching in Clinical Contexts: A Practical Guide Elsevier. pp. 273-285The potential and paradox of informal learning
Boud, D. and Rooney, D. 2018. The potential and paradox of informal learning. in: Messmann, G., Segers, M. and Dochy, F. (ed.) Informal Learning at Work: Triggers, Antecedents and Consequences Routledge. pp. 134-152Assessment could demonstrate learning gains, but what is required for it to do so?
Boud, D. 2018. Assessment could demonstrate learning gains, but what is required for it to do so? Higher Education Pedagogies. 3 (1), pp. 54-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2017.1413671