Development and validation of Questionnaire for Self-regulated Learning Writing Strategies (QSRLWS) for EFL learners

Abstract

Drawing on a proposed theoretical framework that integrates a social cognitive perspective of self-regulation and a process genre approach to L2 writing, this research describes the development and validation process of a new instrument, Questionnaire for Self-regulated Learning Writing Strategies (QSRLWS). QSRLWS was validated with satisfactory psychometric qualities. Nine hundred eighty Chinese university EFL learners participated in the study (N = 960 after data screening). The study first described the questionnaire development process and adopted exploratory factor analysis to validate the factorial structure with half of the sample (n = 480). It further confirmed the structure with confirmatory factor analysis with another half of the sample (n = 480). Model comparisons confirmed a four-factor second-order structure in which QSRLWS comprised 12 SRL writing strategy types into four dimensions of strategy groups, i.e., metacognitive, cognitive, social, and motivational/affective regulation. Predictive validity of these strategies on students’ English writing performance was also reported. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed.