The Role of Diagnostic Writing Assessment in Promoting Chinese EFL Students' Learning Autonomy: An Action Research Study
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| Title: | The Role of Diagnostic Writing Assessment in Promoting Chinese EFL Students' Learning Autonomy: An Action Research Study |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Jufang Kong, Mingwei Pan (ORCID |
| Source: | Language Teaching Research. 2026 30(4):2060-2084. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 25 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Writing Evaluation, Independent Study, Feedback (Response), Writing Ability, Intervention, Learning Strategies |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13621688231178465 |
| ISSN: | 1362-1688 1477-0954 |
| Abstract: | Writing is a productive language skill that is difficult to improve and derive confidence from. Despite the abundant studies on product, process, or genre approaches to teaching writing and teachers' feedback, there is a paucity of research into English as a foreign language (EFL) students' responsibility for writing improvement and diagnostic writing assessment feedback. The present study employed an action research approach to explore the role of diagnostic writing assessment in promoting Chinese upper-intermediate EFL students' learning autonomy. Questionnaires, reflective journals, and portfolios were utilized to elicit data, which were analyzed within Benson's three-dimension learning autonomy framework. It was revealed that the diagnostic writing assessment impacted all dimensions of learning autonomy, helping EFL students form realistic perceptions of their writing abilities, formulate approachable remedial learning goals, select appropriate learning methods and content, monitor learning processes, and evaluate learning outcomes. It was also found that teacher interventions could significantly enhance EFL students' learning management. This study highlighted the role and tested the feasibility of adopting diagnostic writing assessment to facilitate EFL students' autonomous learning. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1502900 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Writing is a productive language skill that is difficult to improve and derive confidence from. Despite the abundant studies on product, process, or genre approaches to teaching writing and teachers' feedback, there is a paucity of research into English as a foreign language (EFL) students' responsibility for writing improvement and diagnostic writing assessment feedback. The present study employed an action research approach to explore the role of diagnostic writing assessment in promoting Chinese upper-intermediate EFL students' learning autonomy. Questionnaires, reflective journals, and portfolios were utilized to elicit data, which were analyzed within Benson's three-dimension learning autonomy framework. It was revealed that the diagnostic writing assessment impacted all dimensions of learning autonomy, helping EFL students form realistic perceptions of their writing abilities, formulate approachable remedial learning goals, select appropriate learning methods and content, monitor learning processes, and evaluate learning outcomes. It was also found that teacher interventions could significantly enhance EFL students' learning management. This study highlighted the role and tested the feasibility of adopting diagnostic writing assessment to facilitate EFL students' autonomous learning. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1362-1688 1477-0954 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13621688231178465 |
