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Psychometric properties of an English Writing Self-Efficacy scale: aspects of construct validity

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Abstract

This study provided validity evidence of the Questionnaire of English Writing Self-Efficacy (QEWSE) based on the five sources of validity evidence described in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 2014). Items of this measure demonstrated close alignment with the linguistic domain and the writing self-efficacy and self-regulation theories, providing validity evidence based on test content. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a satisfactory global fit of the four-factor (ideation, skills, use, and self-regulation) model to the data, providing internal structure-based evidence. Significant correlations between self-efficacy ratings, writing proficiency, and writing self-regulated learning strategies supported the validity evidence based on relations to other variables. The reliability evidence was evaluated with consistencies of participants’ responses to items and further supported using Item Response Theory (IRT). IRT analyses suggested that measurement precision was greatest at the lower range of the latent trait scale, which provided justification for the primary use of the instrument to identify students with low writing self-efficacy.

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Correspondence to Chuang Wang.

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Appendices

Appendix A

Questionnaire of English Writing Self-Efficacy (QEWSE)

Notes: Please read the following questions carefully and make an accurate evaluation of your current command of English no matter whether you are doing it or not. These questions are designed to measure your judgment of your capabilities, so there are no right or wrong answers.

Please use the following scales to answer these questions accordingly. Please choose the number accurately representing your capabilities

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I cannot do it at all

I cannot do it

Maybe I cannot do it

Maybe I can do it

I basically can do it

I can do it

I can do it well

1. I can think of many ideas for my writing

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2. I can organize sentences into a paragraph to express an idea

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3. I can correctly spell all the words in the compositions I write

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4. I can compose messages in English on social media (e.g., WeChat and blogs)?

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5. I can focus on my writing for at least one hour

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6. I can put my ideas into writing

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7. I can organize different paragraphs into a composition

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8. I can correctly use verb tenses in English writing

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9. I can make new sentences with given words

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10. I can write an expository paragraph in English

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11. I can think of appropriate words to describe my ideas

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12. I can focus on the main ideas when writing

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13. I can write an argumentative paragraph in English

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14. I can write email messages in English

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15. I can finish writing assignments on time

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16. I can write a descriptive paragraph in English

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17. I can write diaries in English

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18. I can plan what I want to say before I start writing

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19. I can avoid distractions while I write

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20. I can write a paragraph in a cohesive way

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21. I can write a sentence with proper grammatical structures

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22. I can write a narrative paragraph in English

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23. I can revise my writing to make it better

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24. I can control my frustration when I write

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25. I can keep writing even when it’s difficult

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26. I can fix my grammar errors

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27. I can write a paragraph in a coherent way

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Sun, T., Wang, C. & Kim, S.Y. Psychometric properties of an English Writing Self-Efficacy scale: aspects of construct validity. Read Writ 35, 743–766 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-021-10206-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-021-10206-w

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