Construct validation of Bachman and Palmer's (1996) strategic competence model over time in EFL reading tests

Abstract

This article reports on a large-scale study that aims to validate the theory of strategic competence proposed by Bachman and Palmer (1996) through the use of structural equation modeling (SEM). The present study examines the relationship of test-takers' long-term strategic knowledge (i.e., trait strategies) and actual strategy use (i.e., state strategies) to second language (L2) reading test performance over time. The data were gathered on two occasions (during the mid-term and final examination periods). Five hundred and sixty-one Thai university test-takers answered a trait strategy use questionnaire prior to the mid-term and final reading achievement tests and, immediately after completing each test, they answered a state strategy use questionnaire. It was found that (1) trait metacognitive strategy use (MSU) directly and strongly affects trait cognitive strategy use (CSU); (2) trait CSU does not greatly affect state CSU; (3) trait MSU directly affects state MSU in a specific context, which in turn directly affects state CSU; and (4) state CSU directly affects a specific language test performance to a varying degree.

Attitudes towards Teaching and Learning Test-taking Strategies for Reading Comprehension Tests: The Case of Iranian EFL Undergraduates

“…Several studies have probed the impacts of test-taking strategies on test performance (e.g., Cohen, 1984;Nevo, 1989;Phakiti, 2008;Radojevic, 2009;Rezaee, 2005). In his study, Rezaee (2005) investigated the impact of knowing and applying test-taking strategies on the Iranian EFL learners' language test performance taking an achievement language test and whether the degree the testees use test-taking strategies vary in different sections of the test.…”

“…Another study on test-taking strategies was conducted by Phakiti (2008). The study investigated the relationship of test-takers' use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies to the EFL reading comprehension test performance.…”

The Relationship between Reading Strategy Use and EFL Test Performance

“…There has been a steady interest in investigating the relationship between strategy use and L2 test performance (e.g Cohen & Upton, 2007;Phakiti, 2003Phakiti, , 2008Purpura, 1997Purpura, ,1998Song and Cheng, 2006;Zhang, Liu, Zhao and Xie, 2011). Some studies support a connection between strategy use and L2 test performance, while others do not.…”

“…The questionnaire was adapted from Phakiti (2008) as the questionnaire in Phikiti's study was designed for EFL learners. As a result, it seemed very appropriate for the participants in this study.…”

“…They are ongoing conscious mental behaviours used by L2 learners to perform better in the language. They are, according to Phakiti (2008), composed of three strategies: comprehending (understanding a text, identifying main ideas in the text and making inferences), memory (storing information), and retrieval (recalling information, such as relating the information from a text to prior knowledge, guessing meanings from a context, and applying grammatical rules). Beside these cognitive strategies, L2 learners also seem to use metacognitive strategies to understand a text.…”