Chinese university students’ self-regulated learning of English through digital apps

Project Details

This research project is sponsored by Duolingo USA. The overarching goal of the project is to investigate how digital apps affect second-language learners’ self-regulated learning and performance in language learning. Specifically, this longitudinal study aims to investigate the effectiveness of digital apps in improving the Chinese university students’ self-efficacy beliefs and performances in English learning (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). In addition, it will also explore how the digital language learning apps can facilitate students’ self-regulated learning which in turn impacts students’ learning performance and their intentions to continue using the apps in their future learning.

To achieve the goal, a mixed qualitative and quantitative research design, which involves a quasi-experiment and a structured interview, is employed to collect multiple sources of data including standardised test data, online survey data, students’ app usage data, and interview data. Various analytical methods like item response theory, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, latent class/profile analysis, and text/content analysis will be applied to analyse the data to address the research questions.

This project will enhance our understanding of the effectiveness of learning apps in supporting the second-language learners’ language learning. It will also provide us with constructive feedback on the designs of the apps for improving the students’ experience of and intention to continue using the apps.

Funder:

Duolingo USA

Team:

Dr. Zhonghua Zhang (Principal Investigator)

A/Prof. Joshua McGrane (Principal Investigator)

Professor Therese N. Hopfenbeck

Xiaoyan Li (Hangzhou Dianzi University)

Juanli Zhou (Hangzhou Dianzi University)

Kai Shi (Hangzhou Dianzi University)