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Does one size fit all? The scope and type of error in direct feedback effectiveness

  • Chian-Wen Kao EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: April 22, 2022

Abstract

This study is an attempt to investigate the scope and type of error in feedback effectiveness. This study consists of two experiments. One was conducted to investigate the feedback effects on a rule-based error type (i.e. subject–verb agreement errors) and the other was conducted to investigate the effects on a lexically-based error type (i.e. verb–noun collocation errors). In addition, the scope of error was investigated in both experiments. In terms of the rule-based error type, results for the immediate posttest writing task showed focused feedback to be effective for the narrowly defined subject–verb agreement errors (i.e. subject–verb agreement involving lexical verbs or copula be). In the delayed posttest writing task, the benefit still persisted for the narrowly defined subject–verb agreement errors. In terms of the lexically-based error type, results for the immediate posttest writing tasks showed focused feedback to be effective for the broadly defined verb–noun collocation errors (three or four collocation errors made and corrected in pretests). In the delayed posttest writing tasks, the benefit still persisted for the broadly defined verb–noun collocation errors broadly defined. These findings suggest that the notion of error type should influence the feedback effectiveness. Theoretical implications regarding the role of notice in the second language acquisition process were discussed based on the results obtained in this study.


Corresponding author: Chian-Wen Kao, Department of Applied English, Chihlee University of Technology, No. 313, Sec. 1, Wenhua Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City 220, Taiwan, ROC, E-mail:

Award Identifier / Grant number: MOST 110-2511-H-263-001

Appendix: Writing tasks over the three testing stages

The Writing Prompt in the Pretest/Posttest/Delayed Posttest

請根據以下的職缺廣告, 針對該職缺的 職務說明 寫作要求 , 運用 所提供的單字 寫一封約 120 字的英文求職信給雇主。

寫作要求:

  • 敘述在哪裡看到該職缺, 並表達想要提出申請的意願。

  • 敘述該職缺所需能力為何, 簡述自己與該職缺相關的經驗(如 : 修過什麼課程、參加過什麼訓練…等), 並說明這些經驗使自己具備了哪些能力。

  • 敘述所附履歷包含哪些資訊, 並指出這些資訊顯示所擁有的資格符合該職缺需求。

  • 請求雇主給予參加面試的機會並預約可見面的時間。

單字: application, course, interview, appointmen

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Received: 2021-09-10
Accepted: 2022-03-23
Published Online: 2022-04-22
Published in Print: 2024-01-29

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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