Dimensions of test performance in English as a foreign language in different European settings : A two-level confirmatory factor analytical approach.

• The present study explored data from a survey of students’ performance in English at theend of compulsory school in 6 European countries. The aim was to gain deeperknowledge of the internal structure of the test and to discuss similarities anddifferences between the different settings regarding patterns in language proficiency.The analyses, conducted by a factor analytic approach and 2-level structural equationmodelling (SEM) techniques, indicated an overall English achievement factor at bothstudent and school levels. Furthermore, an effect of format differences at the studentlevel, constituted by a factor related to tasks demanding constructed response, wasfound. Three correlated modality factors related to listening, linguistic, and readingskills were identified but not further elaborated on as they improved the model onlymodestly. Considerable differences in between-school variation were found in thedifferent settings. The results are discussed in relation to the instrument, studentachievements, and the state of English in the participating countries.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

patterns of English proficiency

European context

two-level SEM techniques

internal structure of test

similarities and differences

dimensionality

Lärarutbildning och pedagogisk yrkesverksamhet

Teacher Education and Education Work

patterns of English proficiency; European context; two-level SEM techniques; internal structure of test; similarities and differences; dimensionality

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