South Korean University Research Articles

Information Literacy Education in University Libraries: A Comparative Study in Taiwan and South Korea

ABSTRACTThis study aims to compare the information literacy education practices of university libraries in Taiwan and South Korea using the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (ACRL, 2016). The result shows that while Taiwanese institutions demonstrate comprehensive coverage across all six frames, South Korean university libraries lack some frames. The identified gaps will be analyzed thoroughly with ongoing research. This research will contribute to understand the shortcomings in the information literacy education provided by university libraries and suggest how we can further research and improve in the future.

이공계 고급인재 유학생의 한국어 학습의 필요성에 대한 고찰

[Purpose] Increasing population movements between countries have made the challenges of cultural diversity and multicultural coexistence a major social issue. This study examined the satisfaction of highly talented international students in Korea and some of the difficulties they face in the adaptation process. [Methods] This study explored the experiences of high-performing international students at a South Korean university, specifically examining differences in satisfaction between the students that learned some Korean and those that did not. A t-test analysis of survey responses from 852 students revealed some significant disparities between the two groups. [Results] While both groups reported similar levels of satisfaction with the academic and administrative aspects of university life, the members of the Korean-learning group exhibited significantly higher satisfaction and far fewer difficulties in their personal lives than the non-learning group. Specifically, Korean learners cited higher levels of satisfaction with regards to health, safety, and daily life in general, and less difficulty in adapting to life in Korea. [Conclusion] These findings highlight the importance of language proficiency in fostering successful adaptation and facilitating greater understanding, empathy, and adaptability among international students. Ultimately, the results of the study suggest that language acquisition can contribute to more harmonious and inclusive multiculturalism in the host society, and in Korea this carries implications for the importance of supporting Korean language learning among international students and other foreign residents.

Buffering or enhancing? An exploratory study of gender differences in the moderating role of self-control in cyberbullying perpetration

Despite growing attention to the moderating role of self-control in the association between crime and its correlates, gender differences in this role remain underexplored. This study explored gender differences in the moderating role of self-control in the context of cyberbullying. We examined whether self-control moderates the links between cyberbullying perpetration via mobile devices and two cyberbullying igniters: 1) cyberbullying victimization and 2) association with peers having prior cyberbullying behaviors, and whether this moderating role varies across genders. A tobit regression analysis of 244 South Korean college students showed that among female students, self-control significantly moderated the link between cyberbullying and association with peers having prior cyberbullying behaviors. The relationship was stronger among female participants with higher levels of self-control, but not for male ones. The enhancing effect of self-control was significantly greater for females than males. The implications of gender differences and their relevance to cyberbullying are also discussed.

Development and validation of suicide crisis scale for international students in South Korea.

This study created and validated a scale to measure the level of suicide crisis among international students attending South Korean universities. Study 1 developed questions and constructed the components of the scale using an initial survey of 248 people and exploratory factor analysis. Study 2 validated the scale using a second survey of 340 participants and confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that 21 items were confirmed in six factors, which include lack of social support, burdensomeness, maladaptation to Korean culture, academic maladjustment, suicidal thoughts, and suicide risk. We verified the convergent validity, criterion validity, and reliability of the scale. The significance and implications of this study are presented, along with suggestions for future research.

The (re)construction of the multilingual identity of a Chilean graduate student in South Korea: a narrative inquiry

ABSTRACT A growing number of students studying abroad in Asian countries face a common linguistic experience: the language of instruction in the courses they follow is English, which is not the language of the host country and international students whose L1 is neither English nor Korean must thus need to (re)construct their academic and personal identities in various multiple second languages (L2). This study presents the narrative of a Chilean student who had recently completed postgraduate studies in an English-taught programme at a South Korean university. It explores how she constructed a life for herself in South Korea and built a multilingual identity. It highlights in particular the tension she experienced between the two L2s involved: English and Korean. The participant was interviewed four times, and her answers were reconstituted into a narrative. Analysis of the narrative highlights four key themes: language learning enthusiasm, the learner’s investment in language learning, the process of identity reconstruction, and maintaining multilingualism.

Self-Concealment and Career Counseling Help-Seeking in South Korean College Students: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Identifying factors influencing career counseling services and providing interventions to increase utilization is crucial because only a few individuals facing career problems use these services. Utilizing the moderated mediation effect of career decision-making autonomy on the mediated model of self-concealment, career stress, and attitudes toward career counseling, this study analyzed 307 college students in South Korea. This study investigated whether career stress mediates the relationship between self-concealment and attitudes toward career counseling. Additionally, it examined whether career decision-making autonomy moderates this mediated model. The results suggest that career decision-making autonomy is crucial in seeking career counseling services to cope with stress. Implications for further research, limitations of this study, and interventions for increasing using career counseling are discussed.

Effects of peer tutoring-based simulation education on caring for children with respiratory infections among nursing students: A mixed-methods study

BackgroundRespiratory infections are common in children and can quickly deteriorate, necessitating vigilant nursing care. Simulation training provides a valuable tool for nursing students to learn how to manage children with respiratory infections. Peer tutoring has demonstrated benefits, including the creation of a safe, supportive learning environment and the perception of peer tutors as beneficial role models. This study aimed to develop a simulation education program for the care of children with respiratory infections, involving peer tutoring among nursing students, and to assess its effectiveness. MethodsThis mixed-methods study, conducted between July and December 2022, utilized surveys to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. A peer tutoring-based simulation education program for providing care to children with respiratory infections was developed specifically for nursing students. The study was implemented with 49 nursing students from a South Korean university (25 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group). The students' self-efficacy, disposition towards critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and satisfaction with practice were evaluated and analyzed using the unpaired t-test, the chi-square test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. The learning experiences of the students in the experimental group were further examined using qualitative content analysis. ResultsThe experimental group demonstrated greater growth in self-efficacy and satisfaction with practice than the control group. However, no significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of changes in disposition towards critical thinking and problem-solving ability. From the nursing students who participated in the implementation, three categories were identified: “enhancement of learning,” “psychologically secure environment,” and “novel experience.” ConclusionsThe peer tutoring-based simulation education focused on caring for children with respiratory infections effectively improved the self-efficacy and satisfaction of nursing students. This method will be utilized to enhance the learning experience of nursing students in the field of pediatric respiratory care.

Empowering agency through learner-orchestrated self-generated feedback

Recent scholarship emphasises the capacity to self-generate feedback to develop learner agency and avoid bottlenecks as students wait for feedback. Technology can help by mediating access to various level-appropriate resources such as peers’ work-in-progress, uptake strategies and teacher feedback. These can be used as ‘comparators’ for self-generated feedback. This cumulative longitudinal study investigated learner orchestration of self-generated feedback within an ‘open access’ Google Drive/Classroom mediated feedback environment, inductively analysing reflective writing (N = 40), and interviews (N = 30) from several research writing cohorts at a South Korean university from 2018 to 2022. Findings evidence that participants generated feedback from comparisons with peers’ work, uptake strategies and teacher feedback. This helped them better understand tasks, calibrate evaluative judgement, and improve work. Comparisons with exemplars/peers’ work supported global-level insights while peer feedback highlighted aspects outside of conscious awareness evidencing synergy between methods. Peer/teacher feedback replaced the need for teacher instructions for comparison processes and insights for avoiding psychological risks of self-generated feedback were also gleaned. The results are original and significant in illustrating hitherto unexplored benefits of open access to peers’ work-in-progress and teacher feedback, how students exercise agency in orchestrating learning, exemplifying teacher set-up, and elucidating the evolving concept of teacher feedback literacy.

Enhancing equity in South Korean EMI higher education through translanguaging

Abstract This paper argues that to foster more equity in a South Korean Higher Education English Medium Instruction (EMI) learning environment, future policies should embrace a translanguaging medium of instruction. First, the paper provides an overview of current South Korean EMI challenges and then by drawing on data of a larger study presents examples of translanguaging practices used to offset these challenges. The study explored ten South Korean University students’ perceptions of how translanguaging affects access to subject content in their EMI experiences. The findings point to the presence of affordances in the L1 or L2 system in certain EMI situations, which may constrain students’ learning. This is because a translanguaging competence is not an overt part of current EMI policy which may prevent students from capitalising on opportunities. This paper further argues that translanguaging should be viewed as a viable, equitable, socially just medium of instruction to overcome these constraints. Recommendations are made for how students can be given the opportunity to be involved in critiquing and changing the social structures in which they learn, to co-imagine a socially just translanguaging future. The paper concludes by further arguing that the native speaker monolingual ideology needs to be challenged in EMI policy.

유학생 에세이에 나타난 대학 생활에 대한 인식 연구

This study aimed to compile a small corpus of essays written by international students studying at South Korean universities, extract high-frequency vocabulary from the corpus, and analyze the content of the essays to research the perceptions of international students about university life. To achieve this, the researchers compiled a small corpus of 68 essays written by foreign international students about their university experiences. The researcher manually typed and saved the materials written by the learners in Word files, preserving any errors made by the learners in the raw data. Subse quently, the raw data were refined by correcting the errors. The processed data were subjected to morphological analysis using the Kkma morphological analyzer, and a word frequency list was generated using the AntConc word module (version 4.2.0). The extracted words were then searched in the essays to understand the context before and after their usage and to analyze the learners’ perceptions. The learners' experiences revealed that the difficulty level of university life could be influenced by their friends and that they attempted to overcome the challenges of their studies with a positive attitude. They also faced challenges in various fields, especially when engaging in team projects or presentations in Korean. Furthermore, university life was evidently not just about academic learning; it also involved ac quiring knowledge related to life’s principles and various aspects of life in general.

The effects of flipped learning and gamification on nursing students’ patient safety education: A mixed method study

BackgroundThe importance of enhancing education to promote nursing students’ patient safety competency is increasing. Hence, implementing diverse educational programs and assessing their outcomes is essential. ObjectivesTo examine the effects of flipped learning and gamification on nursing students’ patient safety education. DesignA mixed-method design employing a quasi-experimental design with a pre-post control group design and qualitative thematic analysis. MethodsThe study was conducted at a South Korean university in W City from September to December 2022. It included 55 s-year nursing students. The experimental group (n = 28) participated in a 30-h patient safety education course using flipped learning and gamification, whereas the control group (n = 27) received only written patient safety education materials. Learning motivation, collective efficacy, patient safety competency, and game evaluations were measured. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance, repeated measure analysis of covariance, and generalized estimating equations. Self-reflection journals on game participation experiences were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. ResultsLearning motivation scores did not differ significantly between groups for time, or interactions between groups and time, but collective efficacy and patient safety competency scores showed significant differences in the interactions between groups and time. The experimental group showed a high satisfaction score in game evaluation. Qualitative analyses were used to extract four themes—three positives: “fun and immersion differentiated from existing classes,” “improved the learning outcomes and learning motivation,” and “realized the value of collaboration and communication,” and one negative: “feeling down due to unfamiliarity.” ConclusionsThis program creates positive learning experiences and enhances nursing students’ collective efficacy and patient-safety competencies. It is expected to be utilized in various future nursing courses.

The Mediating Effect of Acculturation Ability in the Relationship between Discriminatory Stress and Mental Well-Being among Chinese Students in South Korean Universities

As the number of international students in Korea increases, it is particularly important to pay attention to their mental well-being and adaptability. This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of acculturation ability on the relationship between discrimination stress and mental well-being among Chinese students studying in Korea. The mental well-being of international students has always been a concern. However, for the Chinese students in Korea, who occupy the largest proportion of international students and have special discrimination stress, their psychological adaptation to the cross-cultural environment has not been fully studied. Discrimination stress may negatively affect their mental well-being, and the acculturation ability may play a key role in this process. This study examined the relationship between discrimination stress, acculturation ability, and mental well-being by reviewing data from the literature on Chinese international students studying in South Korea. This study discovered that the association between discriminatory stress and mental well-being is significantly mediated by acculturation skills. That is, international students with higher acculturation ability are more likely to mitigate the adverse effects of discrimination experiences on their mental well-being. The results of this study highlight the importance of acculturation ability in the mental well-being research of international students. In the future, support and intervention measures should be developed for Chinese students studying in South Korea to improve their acculturation ability so as to reduce the negative impact of the stress brought by discrimination on mental well-being and promote the sound development of cross-cultural education.

대학생 성과 평가에 있어 생성형 AI 과제 활용 수용 의사에 관한 연구

Objectives Drawn from the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aims to examine the students’ attitudes and behaviors regarding the acceptance and use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in college assignments.
 Methods A survey with 193 students from a South Korean university was conducted with both qualitative and quantitative methods. In terms of the qualitative method, a thematic analysis was conducted. For quantitative method, a moderated mediation model with path analysis was tested using Mplus software.
 Results The quantitative analysis revealed that students perceiving high unfairness in generative AI and those anticipating a high possibility of detection in generative AI assignments were more inclined to express lower acceptance of generative AI. Furthermore, the relationship between perceived unfairness and AI acceptance was moderated by the perception of detection possibility. A heightened possibility of detection strengthened the negative association between perceived unfairness and AI acceptance. The study also found that the acceptance of generative AI significantly increase the actual behavior of employing this technology for assignments. The qualitative analysis of open-ended questions demonstrated that students generally exhibited positive receiving attitudes to generative AI, but they also recognized potential side effects and acknowledged the need for academic regulations. Additionally, students noted shortcomings in the credibility and practicality of current generative AI technology.
 Conclusions This research is one of the first attempts that tackled students' motivation towards AI and provides the educational implications for use of AI in pedagogical purposes.

Factors Affecting Uzbek Students’ Prewriting Investment at a South Korean University

This ethnographic multiple-case study, grounded in the theory of investment, examines the prewriting practices of three Uzbekistani male undergraduates in an English essay writing class at a South Korean University. It aims to identify the symbolic resources they perceive as attainable through investment and to elucidate the factors shaping this investment. Utilizing a qualitative approach, which is appropriate for capturing the nuanced experiences and perceptions of individual learners, data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and an analysis of teaching documents. This study finds that these students primarily seek three symbolic resources: language skills, educational access, and social networks. Their pursuit of these resources is significantly influenced by their academic aspirations for graduate school and the pattern of prewriting discussions in the classroom. Individual perceptions and priorities uniquely shape the impact of these factors on each student’s investment. The findings suggest that educators, by understanding the diverse perceptions of symbolic resources within limited instructional time, can tailor pedagogical strategies to effectively address students’ needs and foster a more engaging learning environment.

A Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Gratitude Promotion Programs for South Korean College Students.

This study delves into the importance and consequences of gratitude promotion programs for South Korean college students. It uses meta-analyses to evaluate the effects of such programs on this demographic, shedding light on their significance and implications. To that end, we selected 11 papers in which 683 persons participated as study subjects, analyzing them using the PRISMA methodology. We observed an overall effect size of 0.6671, categorized as above medium. The effect sizes of the sub-areas were cognitive (d = 1.37), emotional (d = 0.60), and behavioral (d = 0.77), with the cognitive area exhibiting the largest effect size. When categorized by program type, the effect size (d = 0.85) for the program involving gratitude practice and gratitude recording surpassed the effect size (d = 0.77) of the programs where participants solely engaged in gratitude recording. According to program execution durations, the largest effect size (d = 1.61) appeared in the group that executed the program for the longest period of at least 16 weeks. This study highlights the areas where gratitude promotion programs for college students prove to be most effective. These findings offer valuable insights for tailoring and developing gratitude promotion programs in the future.

Serial mediation effects of ubiquity and notification on the relationship between habitual social media checking behaviors and self-control failures

This study investigated the correlation between habitual checking behavior and self-control failure during social media use among South Korean university students. The study also examined how the ubiquity of and immediate responses to social media notifications affect this relationship, both independently and serially. An online survey was conducted with 400 undergraduate students at South Korean universities. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between habitual checking behaviors and self-control failure in South Korean university students’ social media use. Ubiquity mediated habitual checking behaviors and self-control failure; ubiquity and immediate responses to notifications mediated the relationship between habitual checking behavior and self-control failure; and ubiquity and immediate responses to notifications serially mediated the relationship between habitual checking behavior and self-control failure. The results highlight the social media use challenges of university students and the factors that contribute to self-control failure in this context.

South Korean University Lecturers’ Opinions About Initial Teacher Education in Gifted Education

Despite the importance of initial teacher training, no primary education courses in South Korean universities provide a compulsory course in gifted education and elective courses are limited. Individual in-depth interviews with seven lecturers of gifted education courses were conducted to elicit their opinions about initial teacher education in gifted education. The lecturer interviewees suggested that there should be more of an emphasis on gifted education in initial teacher education programs. They also emphasized the importance of practical teaching experience with gifted students. The expansion of initial teacher education in gifted education in South Korea has the potential to improve preservice teachers’ understanding gifted students, ultimately improving the outcomes of this population.

Characteristics and Enlightenment of the Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in South Korean Colleges

Characteristics and Enlightenment of the Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in South Korean Colleges

Predictors of 2‐Year Trajectory of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Physical Injury

Objectives. This study investigated post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) trajectories and their predictors over a 2‐year period, in individuals recovering from physical injuries. Materials and Methods. Between June 2015 and January 2021, 1,142 patients from a South Korean University Hospital Trauma Center underwent baseline evaluations, including PTSD‐related measures and sociodemographic characteristics. They were subsequently followed up for PTSD using the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The analyzed sample consisted of 1,014 patients who were followed up at least once after the baseline and 3‐month evaluations. Latent class growth analysis and logistic regression models were used. Results. Five distinctive trajectories were identified: resilient, worsening/recovery, worsening, recovery, and chronic groups. The worsening/recovery trajectory was associated with previous traumatic events and traffic‐related injuries, while the worsening trajectory was linked to higher education and elevated depressive symptoms. The recovery trajectory was characterized by female sex, childhood abuse, traffic‐related injuries, dissociative subtype, and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The chronic trajectory was predicted by the dissociative subtype and heightened anxiety symptoms. Conclusion. These findings highlighted the heterogeneity of PTSD symptom development and, thus, the importance of considering individual characteristics when assessing and addressing PTSD following physical injuries.

CIPP 모형을 활용한 국내대학 다양성 전담 조직 평가

[Purpose] This study examined diversity organizations within universities in South Korea and juxtaposed these findings with a case from the State University of New York (SUNY).
 [Methods] Using a systematic literature review as a starting point, we interviewed five pivotal representatives from South Korean universities with a established diversity organization, as well as four chief diversity officers from SUNY. Anchoring our research in the Context-Input- Process-Product evaluation model, a multiple case study approach was adopted.
 [Results] In the context of evaluation phase, the rise of diversity organizations was seen as a spontaneous response to cater to the shifting demands of higher education. From an input evaluation perspective, the objectives were deemed appropriate, yet there was a noticeable lack of internal resources and support mechanisms. When evaluating processes, they primarily functioned as consultative entities, thereby influencing their capacity to shape institutional decisions. Furthermore, product evaluation revealed that these organizations made commendable strides. This includes advocating for legislative reforms, revamping academic curricula, publicizing official statements, developing diversity index/metric, and orchestrating various publications and public events.
 [Conclusion] Based on this foundation, it was suggested that the university's diversity policy, beyond its educational impact, should serve as a keyword for university innovation.