Construction and Validation of EFL Learners’ Attitudes toward English Pronunciation (LATEP): A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

The present study aimed at constructing and validating a scale to measure the significance of pronunciation in English language learners' perspectives within four major domains of Linguistic, Psychological, Sociocultural, and World Englishes that are highly associated with pronunciation ability. Building upon the previous literature, the Learner Attitudes Toward English Pronunciation (LATEP) scale was constructed in six-point Likert type format. In order to verify its construct validity, the hypothesized four-solution model underwent Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis through AMOS with a sample-size of 243 advanced EFL learners. The results of the study showed initial poor fit of the LATEP model to the sample data; however, the model was revised by removing seven items from the questionnaire as well as the addition of a correlational path between two error terms. LATEP scale may be applied into various fields of study to fill the inherent gaps in the realm of English language learning.