The effect of error correction on learners' ability to write accurately

The paper evaluates and synthesizes research on the question of how error correction affects learners’ ability to write accurately, combining qualitative analysis of the relevant studies with quantitative metaanalysis of their findings. The conclusions are that, based on existing research: (a) the best estimate is that correction has a small negative effect on learners’ ability to write accurately, and (b) we can be 95% confident that if it has any actual benefits, they are very small. This analysis is followed by discussion of factors that have probably biased the findings in favor of correction groups, the implication being that the conclusions of the meta-analysis probably underestimate the failure of correction.

[1]  Ilona Leki.  THE PREFERENCES OF ESL STUDENTS FOR ERROR CORRECTION IN COLLEGE-LEVEL WRITING CLASSES , 1991 .

[2]  Dana Ferris,et al.  Feedback in Second Language Writing: Does error feedback help student writers? New evidence on the short- and long-term effects of written error correction , 2006 .

[3]  Lucy L Fazio,et al.  The Effect of Corrections and Commentaries on the Journal Writing Accuracy of Minority- and Majority-Language Students. , 2001 .

[4]  S. Krashen.  The Comprehension Hypothesis and its Rivals , 2002 .

[5]  L. Hedges,et al.  Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis , 1987 .

[6]  D. Ferris.  The Influence of Teacher Commentary on Student Revision , 1997 .

[7]  Jacob Cohen,et al.  A power primer. , 1992, Psychological bulletin.

[8]  D. Ferris.  Student Reactions to Teacher Response in Multiple‐Draft Composition Classrooms* , 1995 .

[9]  John F. Lalande.  Reducing Composition Errors: An Experiment , 1982 .

[10]  Tim Ashwell,et al.  Patterns of Teacher Response to Student Writing in a Multiple-Draft Composition Classroom: Is Content Feedback Followed by Form Feedback the Best Method? , 2000 .

[11]  Trena M. Paulus,et al.  The Effect of Peer and Teacher Feedback on Student Writing , 1999 .

[12]  R. Adams,et al.  L2 output, reformulation and noticing: Implications for IL development , 2003 .

[13]  Ken Hyland,et al.  Feedback in Second Language Writing: Author index , 2006 .

[14]  Terence Odlin,et al.  Perspectives on Pedagogical Grammar: GRAMMAR, LEXICON, AND DISCOURSE , 1994 .

[15]  Kyle Perkins,et al.  THE EFFECT OF FORMAL LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION ON THE ORDER OF MORPHEME ACQUISITION1 , 1975 .

[16]  Steven J. Ross,et al.  SALIENCE OF FEEDBACK ON ERROR AND ITS EFFECT ON EFL WRITING QUALITY , 1986 .

[17]  Dana Ferris,et al.  Methodology in Language Teaching: Teaching Students to Self-Edit , 2002 .

[18]  Lourdes Ortega,et al.  Synthesizing research on language learning and teaching , 2006 .

[19]  Gwenn W. Gröndal,et al.  Meta-analytic procedures for social research , 1993 .

[20]  C. R. Henson.  Conclusion , 1969 .

[21]  J. Truscott.  What's Wrong with Oral Grammar Correction , 1999 .

[22]  J. Truscott.  The Case for “ The Case Against Grammar Correction in L 2 Writing Classes ” : A Response to , 2003 .

[23]  W. Dunlap,et al.  Meta-Analysis of Experiments With Matched Groups or Repeated Measures Designs , 1996 .

[24]  Diana Frantzen.  The Effects of Grammar Supplementation on Written Accuracy in an Intermediate Spanish Content Course , 1995 .

[25]  Jean Chandler.  A response to Truscott , 2004 .

[26]  Icy Lee,et al.  ESL learners' performance in error correction in writing: Some implications for teaching , 1997 .

[27]  L. Hedges,et al.  The Handbook of Research Synthesis , 1995 .

[28]  J. Truscott.  EVIDENCE AND CONJECTURE ON THE EFFECTS OF CORRECTION: A RESPONSE TO CHANDLER , 2004 .

[29]  Charlene Polio,et al.  “If I only had more time:” ESL learners' changes in linguistic accuracy on essay revisions , 1998 .

[30]  J. Norris,et al.  Effectiveness of L2 Instruction: A Research Synthesis and Quantitative Meta‐analysis , 2000 .

[31]  Dana R. Ferris,et al.  ERROR FEEDBACK IN L2 WRITING CLASSES: HOW EXPLICIT DOES IT NEED TO BE? , 2001 .

[32]  Mark W. Lipsey,et al.  Practical Meta-Analysis , 2000 .

[33]  Christine Goring. Kepner.  An Experiment in the Relationship of Types of Written Feedback to the Development of Second‐Language Writing Skills , 1991 .

[34]  Jean Chandler,et al.  THE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS KINDS OF ERROR FEEDBACK FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE ACCURACY AND FLUENCY OF L2 STUDENT WRITING , 2003 .

[35]  H Doherty,et al.  "If only I had more time". , 1982, Dentalpractice.

[36]  Dana R. Ferris,et al.  Response To Student Writing: Implications for Second Language Students , 2003 .

[37]  R. Rosenthal.  Parametric measures of effect size. , 1994 .

[38]  Harriet D. Semke.  Effects of the Red Pen , 1984 .

[39]  John Bitchener,et al.  The Effect of Different Types of Corrective Feedback on ESL Student Writing. , 2005 .

[40]  Chandler Stolp,et al.  Summing Up: The Science of Reviewing Research , 1984 .

[41]  Nina Spada,et al.  4. The effectiveness of corrective feedback for the acquisition of L2 grammar: A meta-analysis of the research , 2006 .

[42]  Ken Sheppard.  Two Feedback Types: Do They Make A Difference? , 1992 .

[43]  John Truscott,et al.  Selecting Errors for Selective Error Correction , 2001 .

[44]  H. Kleinmann.  AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION1 , 1977 .

[45]  D. Ferris.  THE CASE FOR GRAMMAR CORRECTION IN L2 WRITING CLASSES: A RESPONSE TO TRUSCOTT (1996) , 1999 .

[46]  Barbara Kroll.  Second Language Writing. Research Insights for the Classroom. , 1990 .

[47]  D. Ferris.  The ‘‘Grammar Correction’ ’ Debate in L2 Writing: , 2022 .

[48]  J. Schachter.  AN ERROR IN ERROR ANALYSIS1 , 1974 .

[49]  Icy Lee,et al.  Error correction in L2 secondary writing classrooms: The case of Hong Kong , 2004 .

[50]  Ann K. Fathman,et al.  Second Language Writing: Teacher response to student writing: focus on form versus content , 1990 .

[51]  John Truscott,et al.  Review Article The Case Against Grammar Correction in L2 Writing Classes , 1996 .