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The Importance of the Attitude Factor in Language Dropout: A Preliminary Investigation of Group and Sex Differences *
Author(s) -
Bartley Diana E.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1970.tb01292.x
Subject(s) - dropout (neural networks) , likert scale , psychology , positive attitude , foreign language , ninth , scale (ratio) , school dropout , mathematics education , social psychology , demography , developmental psychology , geography , sociology , socioeconomics , physics , cartography , machine learning , computer science , acoustics
The Foreign Language Attitude Scale (a Likert type scale developed by Dr. Mary DuFort in 1962) was administered to eighth‐grade pupils in September and March. The pupils were then divided into two groups according to whether they continued or dropped foreign language in the ninth grade. Mean attitude scores for both groups were computed and tests of significance of differences between means were performed. The attitude of the “dropout” group was significantly lower than that of the continuing group in September as well as in March. The attitude of the dropout group also deteriorated significantly from September to March while that of the continuing group remained stable. A probability distribution was calculated whereby potential “language dropouts” could thus be detected by low attitude scores as well as by deterioration of attitude scores during the 1966–67 school year.