Burnett (2001) noted that the status of ability feedback as a self-concept enhancer and a
useful classroom strategy is currently in limbo given Mueller and Dweck’s (1998) concerns plus
the findings that students have a strong preference to receive effort feedback and that ability
feedback is unrelated to the relationship with the teacher. Burnett noted that further research is
needed to investigate why students prefer effort feedback to ability feedback and to test the
veracity of the tall poppy syndrome hypothesis. Additionally, the vast majority of studies
investigating teacher praise and feedback in the classroom have employed quantitative measures
that assess students’ perceptions of the frequency and type of interactions they have with their
teacher, but have not observed teacher behaviour in the classroom