Measuring the Accuracy of English Proficiency Self-Assessment in the South Korean Context : A Meta-Analysis of Correlation Studies with Criterion Measures
This meta-analysis investigated the accuracy of English proficiency self-assessment (SA) among EFL learners in South Korea by synthesizing 13 independent study samples. The results revealed a robust overall mean correlation of r = .676 between SA and objective criterion measures, indicating a large effect size and validating SA as an accurate evaluative tool in the Korean context. Moderator analyses clarified that this accuracy is context-dependent: elementary and tertiary students demonstrated higher consistency than secondary students, and learner-centered instruments significantly outperformed teacher-led tools. Additionally, the provision of explicit rater training and the reporting of high reliability for external measures were identified as key factors for enhancing SA accuracy. Among language domains, writing tasks exhibited the strongest correlation. These findings underscore the necessity of treating SA as a learnable skill and integrating it into a learner-centered instructional framework to foster metacognitive awareness and learner autonomy. The study concludes that while publication bias was minimal, systematic training and the use of reliable benchmark measures are essential for maximizing the diagnostic value of self-assessment in language education.
목차
Ⅰ. Introduction Ⅱ. Literature Review A. Meta-Analyses on Self-Assessment Accuracy and Criterion Measures B. Research on Self-Assessment in the South Korean Context Ⅲ. Research Method A. Literature Search and Study Selection B. Coding Scheme and Data Extraction C. Instruments and Statistical Analysis Ⅳ. Results A. Coding Results and Individual Effect Sizes B. Homogeneity Test and Mean Effect Size C. Moderator Analysis D. Sensitivity Analysis & Publication Bias Ⅴ. Discussion Ⅵ. Conclusions and Implications References Abstract