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Impact of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) on Middle School Students' Writing Outcomes

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Title: Impact of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) on Middle School Students' Writing Outcomes
Language: English
Authors: Joshua Wilson (ORCID 0000-0002-7192-3510), Corey Palermo (ORCID 0000-0003-1921-5127), Matthew C. Myers, Tania Cruz Cordero, Halley Eacker, Andrew Potter, Jessica Coles, Henry May (ORCID 0000-0002-5965-3933), Fan Zhang (ORCID 0000-0001-6201-9143)
Source: American Educational Research Journal. 2026 63(1):72-108.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 37
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 7
Grade 8
Descriptors: Writing Evaluation, Middle School Students, Outcomes of Education, Writing Achievement, Automation, Underserved Students, Writing Improvement, Self Efficacy, Student Attitudes, Beliefs, School Districts, Teacher Attitudes, Grade 7, Grade 8, English Instruction, Language Arts, English Teachers, Writing Instruction, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Feedback (Response), Revision (Written Composition)
DOI: 10.3102/00028312251388655
ISSN: 0002-8312
1935-1011
Abstract: This study used a randomized, controlled trial to assess the impact of the automated writing evaluation system MI Write on middle school students from traditionally underserved groups, including Black and Hispanic/Latinx students and those experiencing poverty. The research focused on whether students who used MI Write for one school year (n = 1,260) showed improved argumentative writing performance, increased self-efficacy, greater enjoyment of writing, and stronger beliefs in the recursive nature of writing compared with those who did not use MI Write (n = 1,227). No significant overall treatment effects were found, but significant treatment by district interactions emerged. Perceptions of MI Write were positive overall but varied by district. Findings reveal the limitations and promise of automated writing evaluation.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494618
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Impact of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) on Middle School Students' Writing Outcomes
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joshua+Wilson%22">Joshua Wilson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7192-3510">0000-0002-7192-3510</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Corey+Palermo%22">Corey Palermo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1921-5127">0000-0003-1921-5127</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+C%2E+Myers%22">Matthew C. Myers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tania+Cruz+Cordero%22">Tania Cruz Cordero</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Halley+Eacker%22">Halley Eacker</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+Potter%22">Andrew Potter</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Coles%22">Jessica Coles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henry+May%22">Henry May</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5965-3933">0000-0002-5965-3933</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fan+Zhang%22">Fan Zhang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6201-9143">0000-0001-6201-9143</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Educational+Research+Journal%22"><i>American Educational Research Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 63(1):72-108.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 37
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Evaluation%22">Writing Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Achievement%22">Writing Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Automation%22">Automation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Underserved+Students%22">Underserved Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Improvement%22">Writing Improvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beliefs%22">Beliefs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Districts%22">School Districts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+Instruction%22">English Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Arts%22">Language Arts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+Teachers%22">English Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Instruction%22">Writing Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Technology%22">Educational Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feedback+%28Response%29%22">Feedback (Response)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Revision+%28Written+Composition%29%22">Revision (Written Composition)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.3102/00028312251388655
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  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 0002-8312<br />1935-1011
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study used a randomized, controlled trial to assess the impact of the automated writing evaluation system MI Write on middle school students from traditionally underserved groups, including Black and Hispanic/Latinx students and those experiencing poverty. The research focused on whether students who used MI Write for one school year (n = 1,260) showed improved argumentative writing performance, increased self-efficacy, greater enjoyment of writing, and stronger beliefs in the recursive nature of writing compared with those who did not use MI Write (n = 1,227). No significant overall treatment effects were found, but significant treatment by district interactions emerged. Perceptions of MI Write were positive overall but varied by district. Findings reveal the limitations and promise of automated writing evaluation.
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  Data: EJ1494618
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        Value: 10.3102/00028312251388655
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Writing Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Achievement
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      – SubjectFull: Automation
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      – SubjectFull: Underserved Students
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Improvement
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Beliefs
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      – SubjectFull: School Districts
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