The development and preliminary validation of a new measure of self-efficacy
Questionnaire of self-efficacy in learning a foreign language
Learners’ self-efficacy plays a crucial role in achieving success in second language (L2) acquisition. As a
determinant of success and failure, self-efficacy should be measured appropriately and effectively using empirically and
theoretically based instruments. Many of the current measures, however, are either not necessarily designed to assess
self-efficacy in L2 learning, or they are lengthy, making them impractical to use alongside other instruments. The purpose of this
study was therefore to develop and validate a new 11-item Questionnaire of Self-Efficacy in Learning a Foreign Language (QSLL). In
Study 1, the initial items were piloted with 323 English as a foreign language (EFL) learners from three universities in Turkey.
In Study 2, a revised version of the questionnaire was administered to 701 EFL learners from an additional three Turkish
universities. The analyses supported a bifactor model over the other four models tested. The bifactor model had one general L2
self-efficacy factor that underlined each of the items. Separately, there were two specific factors, namely L2 reception (i.e.,
reading and listening) self-efficacy and L2 production (i.e., speaking and writing) self-efficacy. Empirical evidence supporting
measurement invariance and predictive validity were also provided. Overall, the results show strong evidence for the reliability
and validity of the QSLL. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Article outline
- The Development and Preliminary Validation of a New Measure of Self-Efficacy: Questionnaire of Self-Efficacy in Learning a Foreign Language
- Self-efficacy and L2 learning
- Measuring L2 self-efficacy
- The present study
- Study 1
- Method
- Setting and participants
- Scale construction
- Back translation
- Assessment of face validity
- Data analysis procedure
- Results
- Study 2
- Method
- Setting and participants
- Measures
- Data analysis procedure
- Results
- Measurement invariance
- Reliability and predictive validity of the QSLL
- General discussion
- Limitations and directions for future research
- Implications and conclusions
-
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