• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2015

Acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna has a variety of factors such as incubation condition of test species, food quality and proficiency of laboratory workers. Therefore, proper proficiency testing samples were required for evaluating the competence of laboratory workers. This study aims to propose some appropriate proficiency testing samples for laboratory workers of acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna. Proposed four kinds of standard samples (Sample A, B, C, and D) for proficiency testing were selected from reference materials which were recommended from Canada and USA WET(Whole Effluent Toxicity) authorities. Proposed standard samples were tested by trial application of proficiency testing, homogeneity and stability checks using repeatability test. Sample A, C and D were estimated ad the suitable candidates for proficiency test standard samples except for Sample B. In addition, Sample A was proved to be the most suitable sample.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.447-462
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to develop distributable samples that can be used for proficiency testing to verify the ability of the testing laboratory to perform high temperature and low temperature tests. Method: In this study, the temperature-resistance characteristics of the NTC thermistor were used to develop samples. The homogeneity and stability of samples were examined according to the proficiency testing requirements. Results: Thirty samples with homogeneity and stability were developed and used for the proficiency testing. Thus, it was possible to distinguish between the test laboratories that showed satisfactory results and those that did not. Conclusion: It was the first time to develop samples that can be used for proficiency testing in high temperature and low temperature tests. and it was proved that the proficiency test program can be operated using the characteristics of NTC thermistor.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.447-454
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• 2023

The Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) operates accreditation programs for ensuring measurement traceability with the International System (SI) of Units - the highest calibration standard that measurements can be tested against. As of September 2023, there are 70 KOLAS-accredited laboratories in the Republic of Korea that specialize in humidity calibration. Among them, 32 KOLAS laboratories, along with one laboratory not affiliated with KOLAS, participated in the proficiency test (PM 2023-11) for relative humidity transducers in 2023. This proficiency test was conducted within a relative humidity range of 20-90% at a temperature of approximately 20 ℃, taking into consideration the calibration and measurement capability (CMC) of the participating laboratories. The primary objective of the proficiency test was to establish the measurement equivalence between each participating laboratory and the reference laboratory, by calculating the number of equivalence (En). When |En| was less than 1, the measurements from the participating and reference laboratory were equivalent. Out of the 33 participating laboratories, 32 successfully met this criterion and passed the proficiency test.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.189-208
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate knowledge and use of English collocations in their relation to Korean college students' general English proficiency and writing abilities. Participants in the present study were 203 Korean college students. Their knowledge and use of English collocations were measured by a self-designed collocation test and an essay writing test. The findings were as follows: First, there was a significant difference in students' knowledge of collocations according to their general English proficiency. Students' performance in the collocation test increased as their level of proficiency increased. Second, there was a significant difference in students' knowledge of collocations according to their writing abilities. Students showed better performance in the collocation test as their level of writing abilities increased. Third, there was a significant difference in students' use of collocations according to their writing abilities. Students' collocation use in the writing test increased as their level of writing abilities increased. Fourth, there was a strong relationship between the students' knowledge of collocations and their general English proficiency and between the students' use of collocations and their writing abilities. Pedagogical implications of the study and suggestions for further research were discussed on the basis of the research findings.

• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.221-250
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• 2017

This study aims to discuss the basic foundations to set levels and language skills for developing a Korean Proficiency Test for young and adolescent learners. Recently, there has been an increase in demand regarding young and adolescent learners from multicultural and overseas backgrounds. However, the current Korean Proficiency Test lacks the appropriate means to determine the Korean proficiency of young and adolescent learners with general purposes of language learning. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing a specialized and new form of language assessment for young and adolescent learners who are exposed to a foreign language or a second language learning environment. The study examines and analyzes cases of foreign language examinations for young & adolescent learners; furthermore, the objectives and target were set based on the results of a needs analysis and in-depth interviews conducted among teachers and education officials in overseas Korean Hangeul Schools, international schools, elementary and secondary schools. Finally, the levels and language skills appropriate for the objectives of a proficiency test and target learners have been suggested.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.37-54
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• 2009

This study investigated vocabulary learning strategies used by EFL middle school learners in Korea and examined the relationship between the middle school learners' vocabulary learning strategy (VLS) use and their vocabulary proficiency level. One hundred and forty-one students in a public middle school participated in the study and the data for this study were collected from a vocabulary learning strategy questionnaire and a vocabulary proficiency test. Based on the result of the vocabulary proficiency test, the participants were divided into three proficiency groups: high-, mid- and low- level proficiency groups. The overall findings of the study revealed that the participants used cognitive strategies most frequently and social strategies least frequently. The most frequently used individual strategies were 'using a bilingual dictionary,' 'studying the sound of a word' and 'practicing words through verbal repetition.' The least frequently used ones were 'interacting with native speakers' and 'studying or practicing the meaning of a word in a group.' The research results also showed that the vocabulary proficiency level has a significant influence on the vocabulary strategy use. The more proficient learners used vocabulary learning strategies more actively. More specifically, the high proficiency level group used metacognitive strategies the most. The middle and low proficiency groups used cognitive strategies the most. It is suggested that language teachers should facilitate the vocabulary learning process by helping learners develop appropriate strategies.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.632-637
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• 2014

Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons is used to determine the performance of individual laboratories. In order to verify the quality of acute toxicity testing with Daphnia magna, National Institute of Environmental Research in South Korea is regularly organizing interlaboratory comparisons to estimate the analytical accuracy of different laboratories. Total 58 laboratories located in South Korea took part in interlaboratory proficiency testing scheme with three proficiency testing samples. TU(Toxic Unit) values of each laboratory were determined and robust z-score was calculated in order to evaluate the proficiency levels. Based on the robust z-score classification, 74% of the participant laboratories showed a satisfactory performance (43 laboratories). The main reason of 'unsatisfactory' performance seemed to be considered that the unsuitable management of test organism incubation system and the lack of experience on the identification of the test organism condition by effect of toxicity.

• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.123-159
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• 2012

This study investigates relationships between TOPIK ratings and measures of grammaticality judgement competence in the acquisition of Korean as a second language. Data were collected on the linguistic abilities of learners' at 3 to 6 on the TOPIK scale, focusing on perception in grammar-mostly morphology and syntax, some lexis, and a few of collocation. The results show that (i) proficiency and grammaticality judgement competence show high correlation, (ii) individual accuracy scores correlate strongly with levels on the TOPIK proficiency scale on most linguistic features in the test, and (iii) Japanese speakers outperform Chinese speakers at the same levels of proficiency on most linguistic features. The findings indicate that global proficiency scales like the TOPIK can be deconstructed using grammaticality judgement test that provides detailed measures of learners' control of linguistic features.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.597-610
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to inquiry of influence of Meister high school and specialized vocational high school' students on career maturity in problem solving ability domain of test for enhanced employ ability & upgraded proficiency. Research subjects and region were sophomore students of each one of Meister high schools and specialized vocational high schools in Gwangju region. The sample(N=481) was drawn from 2 high schools and collected data were analyzed with SPSS using t-test, Pearson correlation and Levene's test. Items of problem solving ability domain of test for enhanced employ ability & upgraded proficiency were used test items developed in 2012. Career maturity test in Careernet site was used test items developed in 2001 which was made up 3 domains such as attitude, ability and action and 8 sub-regions such as planning, attitude on the vocation, independence, self-understanding, rational decision-making, explore of information, knowledge of hope vocation and career exploration and preparation of action, and constituted 64 items. The results were as follows. Findings of the analysis in specialized vocational high school students demonstrated the positive results of rational decision-making and explore of information in problem solving ability test for enhanced employ ability & upgraded proficiency. Comparing career maturity influence on Meister high school with specialized vocational high school students about problem solving ability domain of test for enhanced employ ability & upgraded proficiency, Meister high school students' score were more high grade than specialized vocational high school students grade.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.586-591
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• 2003

This paper describes the result of proficiency testing by inter-laboratory comparisons for braking lining. Proficiency testing provides an objective means of assessing and demonstrating the validity and reliability of test results produced by laboratories. To more accuracy comparison test for braking lining test, they will be made the same test procedure and environment conditions.