diff --git a/openassessment/assessment/api/peer.py b/openassessment/assessment/api/peer.py
index 33d83c9bd6..b5a99b170d 100644
--- a/openassessment/assessment/api/peer.py
+++ b/openassessment/assessment/api/peer.py
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ def flexible_peer_grading_active(submission_uuid, peer_requirements, course_sett
     return days_elapsed >= FLEXIBLE_PEER_GRADING_REQUIRED_SUBMISSION_AGE_IN_DAYS
 
 
-def get_peer_score_type(peer_requirements):
+def get_peer_grading_strategy(peer_requirements):
     """
-    Get the peer grading type, either mean or median.
+    Get the peer grading type, either mean or median. Default is median.
     """
     return peer_requirements.get("grading_strategy", GradingStrategy.MEDIAN)
 
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ def get_score(submission_uuid, peer_requirements, course_settings):
         scored_item.scored = True
         scored_item.save()
     assessments = [item.assessment for item in items]
-    score_type = get_peer_score_type(peer_requirements)
-    scores_dict = get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type)
+    grading_strategy = get_peer_grading_strategy(peer_requirements)
+    scores_dict = get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, grading_strategy)
     return {
         "points_earned": sum(scores_dict.values()),
         "points_possible": assessments[0].points_possible,
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ def get_rubric_max_scores(submission_uuid):
         logger.exception(error_message)
         raise PeerAssessmentInternalError(error_message) from ex
 
-def get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type="median"):
+def get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, grading_strategy="median"):
     """Get the median/mean score for each rubric criterion
 
     For a given assessment, collect the median/mean score for each criterion on the
@@ -527,6 +527,8 @@ def get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type="median"):
         submission_uuid (str): The submission uuid is used to get the
             assessments used to score this submission, and generate the
             appropriate median/mean score.
+        grading_strategy (str): The grading strategy to use when calculating
+            the median/mean score. Default is "median".
 
     Returns:
         dict: A dictionary of rubric criterion names,
@@ -541,7 +543,7 @@ def get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type="median"):
         items = workflow.graded_by.filter(scored=True)
         assessments = [item.assessment for item in items]
         scores = Assessment.scores_by_criterion(assessments)
-        return Assessment.get_score_dict(scores, score_type=score_type)
+        return Assessment.get_score_dict(scores, grading_strategy=grading_strategy)
     except PeerWorkflow.DoesNotExist:
         return {}
     except DatabaseError as ex:
diff --git a/openassessment/templates/legacy/edit/oa_edit_peer_assessment.html b/openassessment/templates/legacy/edit/oa_edit_peer_assessment.html
index 9c17341598..7a10a45c81 100644
--- a/openassessment/templates/legacy/edit/oa_edit_peer_assessment.html
+++ b/openassessment/templates/legacy/edit/oa_edit_peer_assessment.html
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
                                 <option value="median" {% if assessments.peer_assessment.grading_strategy == 'median' %}selected="true"{% endif %}>{% trans "Median (default)" %}</option>
                             </select>
                         </div>
-                        <p class="setting-help">{% trans "Select the preferred grading strategy." %}</p>
+                        <p class="setting-help">{% trans "Select the preferred grading strategy for the peer assessment. By default, the median across all peer reviews is used to calculate the final grade. If you select the mean, the average of all peer reviews will be used." %}</p>
                     </li>
                 {% endif %}
             </ul>
diff --git a/openassessment/xblock/grade_mixin.py b/openassessment/xblock/grade_mixin.py
index db78bdfa11..689a7af3ed 100644
--- a/openassessment/xblock/grade_mixin.py
+++ b/openassessment/xblock/grade_mixin.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from xblock.core import XBlock
 
 from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
-from openassessment.assessment.api.peer import get_peer_score_type
+from openassessment.assessment.api.peer import get_peer_grading_strategy
 
 from openassessment.assessment.errors import PeerAssessmentError, SelfAssessmentError
 
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ def has_feedback(assessments):
         if staff_assessment:
             median_scores = staff_api.get_assessment_scores_by_criteria(submission_uuid)
         elif "peer-assessment" in assessment_steps:
-            score_type = get_peer_score_type(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
-            median_scores = peer_api.get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type)
+            grading_strategy = get_peer_grading_strategy(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
+            median_scores = peer_api.get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, grading_strategy)
         elif "self-assessment" in assessment_steps:
             median_scores = self_api.get_assessment_scores_by_criteria(submission_uuid)
 
@@ -369,10 +369,10 @@ def _get_assessment_part(title, feedback_title, part_criterion_name, assessment)
             criterion_name,
             staff_assessment
         )
-        score_type = get_peer_score_type(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
+        grading_strategy = get_peer_grading_strategy(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
         if "peer-assessment" in assessment_steps:
             peer_assessment_part = {
-                'title': _(f'Peer {score_type.capitalize()} Grade'),
+                'title': _(f'Peer {grading_strategy.capitalize()} Grade'),
                 'criterion': criterion,
                 'option': self._peer_median_option(submission_uuid, criterion),
                 'individual_assessments': [
@@ -427,8 +427,8 @@ def _peer_median_option(self, submission_uuid, criterion):
         # Import is placed here to avoid model import at project startup.
         from openassessment.assessment.api import peer as peer_api
 
-        score_type = get_peer_score_type(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
-        median_scores = peer_api.get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, score_type)
+        grading_strategy = get_peer_grading_strategy(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
+        median_scores = peer_api.get_peer_assessment_scores(submission_uuid, grading_strategy)
         median_score = median_scores.get(criterion['name'], None)
         median_score = -1 if median_score is None else median_score
 
@@ -654,11 +654,11 @@ def _get_score_explanation(self, workflow):
         complete = score is not None
 
         assessment_type = self._get_assessment_type(workflow)
-        score_type = get_peer_score_type(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
+        grading_strategy = get_peer_grading_strategy(self.workflow_requirements()["peer"])
         sentences = {
             "staff": _("The grade for this problem is determined by your Staff Grade."),
             "peer": _(
-                f"The grade for this problem is determined by the {score_type} score of "
+                f"The grade for this problem is determined by the {grading_strategy} score of "
                 "your Peer Assessments."
             ),
             "self": _("The grade for this problem is determined by your Self Assessment.")