The purpose of this study is to determine whether explanatory feedback on the test of
English vocabulary learning would have more dramatic changes in students’ English
self-efficacy and achievement than confirmative feedback.
First, we reviewed the previous literature regarding on feedback and self-efficacy, and
implemented a 4-week treatment in English Vocabulary Learning class. In this study, 70
students were participated, 35 in the treatment group A and 35 in the treatment group B, and
they were all middle school students in grade 7th and 8th, living in Seoul and Kyunggi-do in
Korea. Students in both groups had the same vocabulary lessons respectively with the same
instructor. After every lesson, they took a test on the previous session. Students in treatment
group received explanatory feedback on the test result with confirmative facts, and more
specific details from a teacher, while others in control croup received confirmative facts and
correct answer only without any details. In order to recognize the pre-post change in both
groups, we carried out a self-efficacy survey and provided SSAT(Secondary School Admission
Test) verbal section to examine English vocabulary achievement.
As a result of this experiment, we can find teacher’s explanatory feedback contributed more
to fostering positive self-efficacy and academic achievement toward English Vocabulary than
corrective feedback.