A Comparative Study Of Inter-group Peer Feedback And Intra-group Peer Feedback In College English Writing

Some researchers have shifted their concerns on group peer feedback which was believed to promote the collaborative writing and increase accuracy and adoption rate of feedback.Inter-group and Intra-group peer feedback were two main approaches of group peer feedback.The thesis conducted a comparative study on these two ways,aiming to explore the optimal model and shed light on writing classrooms.They were compared in three aspects,including writing improvement,feedback performance and students’ perceptions of them,combined with the quantitative and qualitative methods.According to research purpose,30 first-year English majors were voluntary to participate in the writing experiment,among whom they were divided into two groups--Inter-group and Intra-group peer feedback and each group constituted five subgroups.All participants were trained to conduct feedback and took a CET 6writing test.After writing,all of them gave and received feedback to and from their peers via assigned feedback way.Then they revised their first drafts according to feedback.Finally,all of them completed an online questionnaire.Their writing scores,including first and second drafts,the amount,accuracy rate,adoption rate,uncertain rate and quality of written feedback as well as oral feedback performance were examined,and compared by SPSS.And the general feedback and results of questionnaires were mainly conducted a qualitative analysis.Through data analysis,there were positive statistically significant differences in gain scores of first draft and second draft for both groups,score increase in words for Inter-group,score increase in sentences for Intra-group,uncertainty rate of micro feedback between two groups,amount of negative macro feedback between two groups,comprehensive oral feedback performance between two groups,and gain score in Effort aspect between two groups.It is concluded that both approaches could help students to improve their writings,but the improvement were mainly reflected inthe word aspect for Inter-group and sentence aspect for Intra-group.Additionally,compared with Intra-group peer feedback,Inter-group peer feedback had higher rate of uncertainty in micro feedback and provided more negative macro feedback.Through the analysis of general feedback,both micro and macro feedback were provided in both groups.In terms of oral feedback performance,students in Intra-group peer feedback would have a more heated discussion than Inter-group peer feedback and gave more oral feedback.Finally,students whether in Inter-group or Intra-group peer feedback both had positive attitudes towards the group peer feedback they participated in.To sum up,Intra-group peer feedback seems a little embarrassed and make students be conservative to give advice,but it helps to have more heated discussion between author and feedback giver,especially reflected in oral feedback;Inter-group peer feedback lacks a face-to-face communication between author and feedback provider that will increase the uncertainty of feedback,but it makes feedback providers speak out,particularly in negative feedback.And both of two ways could improve writing and guide students to provide both micro and macro feedback,perceived as effective feedback models and accepted by students.