ERIC Number: ED163754
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1975-Jul
Pages: 335
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Second Language Acquisition: A Social Psychological Approach. Research Bulletin No. 332.
Gardner, Robert C.; Smythe, Padric C.
A two-year research project was conducted to investigate factors that promote second language acquisition and to monitor changes in these factors associated with increased training and proficiency in the second language. Two French programs in London, Ontario second language program beginning in grade 7 and the secondary school French program in London, Ontario, were examined. A battery of tests was developed to assess students' motivation to learn a second language. Information is presented on the elements of experimental design and analysis, the test construction phase of the attitude/motivational test battery, relationships among the attitude/motivational tests and several measures of French achievement, the soundness of the measuring instruments, a formula for predicting second language achievement, results of two separate studies on language dropouts, a different research orientation focusing on stereotypes about French Canadians, English Canadians, "French teacher,""French course," and "English course." A theory that is being developed to integrate the findings on the relationship between French achievement and the three areas of intelligence, language aptitude, and motivation is outlined. Test materials used in the initial study and the validation study and correlation matrices produced to generate factor analytic information are appended. (SW)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Aptitude, Attitude Measures, Cultural Awareness, Elementary Secondary Education, French, Intelligence, Language Attitudes, Language Instruction, Language Proficiency, Language Research, Performance Factors, Second Language Learning, Student Attitudes, Student Motivation, Test Construction
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Ontario Curriculum Inst., Toronto.
Authoring Institution: University of Western Ontario, London. Dept. of Psychology.
Identifiers - Location: Canada; Canada (London)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A