Comparing English Language Learners’ Perceptions of How Reliable Computer-Based, Teacher-Based, and Peer Feedback Is: A Case Study

The literature emphasises the role of feedback (FB) in writing development, leading to explorations of different types of FB to provide, such as teacher-based FB (TBF), peer feedback (PF) and computer-based feedback (CBF). This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate EFL learners’ perceptions of the reliability of TBF, PF and CBF. The participants (n = 40) were Saudi male EFL students in a BA English programme at a Saudi university. The study employed an experimental group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 19). For data collection, pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were administered. The intervention exposed the participants to giving and receiving PF and introduced them to CBF. Following training in providing PF and using the automated system, the participants went through four cycles of writing during which they developed four essays; with each essay, PF and CBF were employed to produce multiple drafts. The main findings indicated that TBF was perceived to be the most reliable type of FB, and that CBF was considered more reliable than PF. Additionally, our findings suggest that the more students are exposed to CBF, the more likely they are to accept it. Pedagogical implications arising from these findings are also discussed.