Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 14. Number 3 September 2023                                   Pp. 87-109
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no3.6

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      Written Corrective Feedback Scientometric Review (1987–2022)

Xuan Wang
School of Foreign Studies
Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

Jingying Zuo
School of Foreign Studies
Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
Corresponding Author: jingyingzuo@mail.nwpu.edu.cn

Xinyi Wang
School of Foreign Studies
Northwestern Polytechnical University, China

 

Received:05/11/2023         Accepted: 08/22/2023                Published:09/24/2023

 

Abstract:
Written corrective feedback is widely used in language learning and teaching, and related studies have attracted significant attention in recent years. Through analysis and visualization of 497 articles indexed in the Web of Science core collection over the past 35 years using CiteSpace, this scientometric review aims to explore the developmental stages, involved disciplines, geospatial fingerprint, main research streams, and emerging research trends of written corrective feedback. The following stages were identified based on the timeline of publications and citations: the sprouting phase (1987–2005), the fluctuating phase (2006–2016), and the explosive phase (2017–2022). The interdisciplinary trend toward written corrective feedback becomes increasingly prominent throughout each stage, and its primary disciplines range from linguistics and cognitive science to psychology and computer science. The primary research contexts for written corrective feedback research are ESL and EFL; countries with multiple coexisting language variants have prioritized research in this field. Existing studies have witnessed a shift from quantitative to qualitative research, and case studies focusing on individual differences are emerging as a newer research frontier. As one of the first few scientometric reviews of written corrective feedback since the phrase first appeared as a combined index term, this study is significant as a reference for comprehensively understanding the intellectual background, dynamics, and evolution of this research field.
Keywords: CiteSpace, co-citation, language learning, scientometrics, written corrective feedback

Cite as:  Wang, X., Zuo, J., & Wang, X.  (2023). Written Corrective Feedback Scientometric Review (1987–2022).
Arab World English Journal, 14 (3) 87-109.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no3.6

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Received: 05/11/2023  
Accepted: 08/22/2023   
Published: 09/24/2023 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5741-0065
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no3.6  

Dr. Xuan Wang is currently Assistant Professor at the School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China. She completed her PhD from the University of Sydney in 2018 and her research interest is second language vocabulary development, language testing and teaching, and language policy and planning. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5741-0065

Jingying Zuo is a Master student in applied linguistics at School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University. Her areas of interest include nonverbal communication in the second language class, language pedagogy, and tacit knowledge in education.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7813-5253

Xinyi Wang is an undergraduate student in English major at School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University. Her research interests are Applied Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2548-1161