Publication: Does Reflective Journal Writing Improve Course Performance?

• Cisero, C.A.

This study investigated whether a reflective journal writing
assignment would improve students' course performance. A
total of 166 students from undergraduate sections of a
course taught by the same instructor over three semesters
completed the assignment as part of their requirements
while students from five previous semesters of the same
course taught by the same instructor, who were not required
to complete the assignment, served as a comparison group.
Compared to the control group, the intervention group had
significantly lower percentage of students receiving grades
of C and D, had a slightly higher percentage of students
receiving grades of A and B, and had approximately the same
number percentage of failing students. This pattern suggests
that journal writing may benefit the average student but may
not substantially benefit the the good student or the
failing student.