What the Research Says About Social Annotation and Student Retention

Retention Starts with Engagement

Colleges and universities are investing significant resources in student retention—through advising, financial aid, and wraparound services. But one of the most powerful levers for keeping students on track is often overlooked: engagement inside the classroom.

When students feel connected to the material, to their instructors, and to their peers, they’re more likely to persist. That’s where Hypothesis comes in. Through collaborative annotation, Hypothesis transforms reading into an active, social experience that supports persistence from day one. And the research backs it up.

1. Annotation Increases Reading Completion

The foundation of academic success is completing the assigned reading. With Hypothesis, students know their engagement is visible and meaningful—which motivates them to show up and read early.

The UT Austin + University of Minnesota case study, which analyzed eText engagement via VitalSource, showed a spike in reading completion in courses using Hypothesis. Diana Fordham at Missouri Southern State University shared a similar pattern: students were not only buying their books—they were annotating them in week one.

“Making annotations even a small percentage of the grade is enough to get students to

pay attention and do the readings.” – Viranga Perera, Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Physics at UT Austin

2. Active Learning Boosts Confidence and Belonging

Annotation turns solo reading into something shared. Students can see their peers’ thoughts, questions, and interpretations—which helps them feel less alone and more confident participating.

This sense of belonging has a measurable impact. Instructors have seen greater participation across the board, Cerritos College credits Hypothesis with supporting equity-focused engagement across its student body.

3. Feedback and Visibility Reduce Dropout Risk

When faculty can see what students are thinking, they can act before it’s too late. Annotations offer an immediate view into who’s reading, what they’re struggling with, and how they’re engaging with the material.

“The thing I absolutely love about Hypothesis is that it’s not that anymore. The reading and the dialogue is all right there together in those layers.”

– Professor Quaas-Berryman

Combined with @mentions and LMS reporting dashboards, Hypothesis enables timely outreach and support—before a student misses a major assignment or drops the course.

4. Equitable Participation Drives Persistence

Social annotation gives students flexible, low-stakes ways to contribute—whether they’re verbal in class or not. For students who learn differently, prefer asynchronous engagement, or are hesitant to speak up, annotation offers a way in.

“Hypothesis has met our diverse student body’s needs, promoting active, collaborative

learning, and enhancing comprehension and critical thinking. It’s helped break down

barriers for students and allow them to engage more with course materials.” 

— Jennifer Jozwiak, Faculty Member, Allan Hancock College

Spring 2025 survey data from Allan Hancock supports this: faculty reported higher levels of inclusion, with more students participating in ways that worked for them.

5. Real-World Institutional Gains in Retention

When deployed at scale, Hypothesis doesn’t just feel effective—it is effective. At Cerritos College, Hypothesis use in gateway English courses led to a 24% increase in retention.

“The retention shot up in that class in particular, it was transformative.”
— Francie Quaas-Berryma, Professor in English, Cerritos College

This isn’t anecdotal. The institution’s internal data supports the link between annotation use, improved student performance, and greater course completion. One thing is clear: engagement isn’t just a feel-good metric—it’s tied directly to retention.

Conclusion: A Scalable Strategy for Retention and Success

Retention doesn’t start with midterms. It starts with the first reading.

Hypothesis makes student thinking visible—helping instructors respond in real time and helping students feel like they belong. When learners are connected to each other, the content, and their instructors, they’re more likely to stay the course.

Annotation may seem simple—but its impact on persistence, equity, and support is anything but.

Want to explore how Hypothesis can support your institution’s retention goals?

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