Frontiers in Psychology (Oct 2022)

Psychophysiological factors as predictors of second language writing achievement in a computer-based test

  • Shu-Ping Lee,
  • Shujen Lee Chang,
  • Hui-Kai Su,
  • Zhen-Yang Cui,
  • Shin-Da Lee,
  • Shin-Da Lee,
  • Shin-Da Lee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.958938
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Sleep quality, personality, and cognitive load potentially increase second language writing (SLW) anxiety and subsequently affect SLW achievement. This study investigates the predictions of sleep quality, personality (social inhibition/ negative affectivity), and cognitive load (content/ computer) toward SLW anxiety and achievement in a computer-based test. Participants included 172 voluntary undergraduates majoring in English as foreign language. SLW anxiety in a computer-based test, sleep disturbance, personality and cognitive load was assessed with the SLW Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Type-D Personality, and cognitive load questionnaires. A structural equation modeling approach was applied to examine the interdependence among the observed variables. An adequate-fit SLW anxiety model was built (X2 = 6.37, df = 6, p = 0.383, NFI = 0.97, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.02; R-squared multiple correlations: SLW anxiety in a computer-based test = 0.19, computer-based SLW achievement = 0.07). The structural model showed that sleep disturbance (+0.17), social inhibition personality (+0.31), and computer-induced cognitive load (+0.16) were significant predictors of SLW anxiety in a computer-based test. Subsequently, SLW anxiety in a computer-based test (−0.16) and computer-induced cognitive load (−0.16) were significant negative predictors of computer-based SLW achievement.

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