Profiling Chinese EFL students' technology-based self-regulated English learning strategies

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Applied Linguistics
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Self-regulated learning is crucial for effective English acquisition, especially in technology-assisted environments.
• Understanding technology-based strategies is vital for optimizing English language learning among university students.
• Existing instruments may not fully capture the nuances of technology integration in self-regulated English learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Technology-Based Self-Regulated English Learning Strategies Scale (TSELSS).
• To investigate the multifaceted structure of technology use in self-directed English learning.
• To provide a reliable tool for assessing EFL students' technology-based self-regulated learning strategies.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase development process including item pool generation, exploratory factor analysis (N=164), and confirmatory factor analysis (N=525).
• Validation through concurrent assessment of English language self-efficacy and learning outcomes.
• Utilized psychometric analyses to ensure scale reliability and validity.

Main Results:

• The final TSELSS comprises five distinct strategy types: motivational regulation, goal setting/evaluation, social strategies, and technology-enhanced learning via songs/movies and vocabulary acquisition.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a robust, multifaceted structure for the scale.
• Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations with self-efficacy and learning outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The TSELSS is a psychometrically sound instrument for evaluating technology-based self-regulated English learning strategies in Chinese university EFL students.
• The scale can serve as a valuable research tool to explore relationships between technology-mediated learning strategies and learner/contextual factors.
• Findings contribute to understanding effective technology integration for enhancing self-directed language learning.