The aim is to examine what characterizes feedback regarding the group of students who receive the most comments compared to the rest of the students, all failing at least one task. Could it be that teachers comment differently on the most underperforming students? Menade du: En brist i tidigare studier har varit att Till skillnad från flertalet studier kring feedback bygger studien på ett större

The empirical material consists of feedback handed out to students following a teacher training programme and is examined on the basis of a descriptive analytical investigation.  The analysis is based on four methods: the type of errors made, the number of times a student makes the same mistake, what kind of feedback was provided, and ‘de-motivational’ comments. One result is that underperforming students receive more feedback on their choice of relevant literature and on the qualification of the answer. Another result is that they receive substantially more ‘de-motivational’ ones as well as a higher proportion of the most negative and disparaging comments. A recommendation for further research is to separate feedback that is related to the qualities of the students’ work from what characterizes the teacher’s comments whatever aspect of the work is being commented on.