Effects of group environment on EFL learners' motivation

• Project/Area Number: 17K02993
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Osaka University (2018-2020); Ritsumeikan University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Mitsuko 大阪大学, マルチリンガル教育センター, 講師 (70732840)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 動機づけ / 学習環境 / グループ・ダイナミックス / グループワーク / 個人差要因 / アクティブ・ラーニング / 質問紙 / ビリーフ / 心理欲求 / 性差 / 評価尺度 / 個人差特性 / 自己観 / 英語熟達度の調整効果 / 個人差

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to develop and examine the validity of a questionnaire in assessing group work environments. The study investigated the effects of group work environments and individual-difference variables on motivation and learning outcomes. Furthermore, the study sought to clarify the factors affecting motivation in project-based English learning contexts where group work is incorporated. The results demonstrated the importance of creating a better group work environment. It also established the significance of the roles of the learners’ gender, self-construal, beliefs, and basic psychological needs in enhancing motivation for learning contexts that entail group work.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果の学術的意義は、英語学習者の動機づけに影響を及ぼす要因として、コンテクスト（グループワーク環境）に着目し、グループワークにおけるその役割を明らかにしたことである。外国語学習動機づけ研究分野において、グループワーク環境等のグループ・プロセス、グループ・ダイナミックスは、これまでのところあまり調査されておらず、本研究成果はこの分野の発展に寄与するものと思われる。また、本研究成果の社会的意義については、グループワークを伴う外国語学習コンテクストにおいて、グループワークをうまく機能させ、学習者の動機づけを高めるための教育的示唆を得られたことが挙げられる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Individual perceptions of group work environment, motivation, and achievement (2021)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Journal Title: International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching Volume: 0 Issue: 0 Pages: 0-0
  • DOI: 10.1515/iral-2020.0183
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Evaluating a scale’s construct validity to assess the group work environment using the Rasch model (2021)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Journal Title: JALT Journal Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Pages: 82-99
  • DOI: 10.37546/jaltjj43.1-4
  • NAID: 40022586584
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Group effects of environment on motivation in L2 group work (2021)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) 2021 Virtual Conference
• [Presentation] Gender, self-construal, and project-based learning (2020)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 46th annual international conference of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)
• [Presentation] プロジェクト型学習において性差および自己観が動機づけに及ぼす影響 (2020)
  • Author(s): 田中美津子
  • Organizer: 第3回JAAL in JACET学術交流会
• [Presentation] Gender differences in motivation to learn English (2019)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 2019 biannual combined Applied Linguistics Association of Australia (ALAA) and the Applied Linguistic Association of New Zealand (ALANZ) conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Group functioning in EFL group work (2019)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 45th annual international conference of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)
• [Presentation] Effects of group work environment on motivation and learning outcomes (2019)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The TESOL 2019 International Convention & English Language Expo
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Individual perceptions of group work environment and L2 learning motivation (2018)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 3rd international Psychology of Language Learning conference (PLL3)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] グループワーク環境が動機づけに及ぼす影響 (2018)
  • Author(s): 田中 美津子
  • Organizer: 動機づけ研究会（関西）
• [Presentation] Measuring group work dynamics (2017)
  • Author(s): Mitsuko Tanaka
  • Organizer: The 43rd annual international conference of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)