A Strong Inference Approach to Causal Factors in Foreign Language Learning: A Response to MacIntyre

• Autores: Richard L. Sparks, Leonore Ganschow
• Localización: Modern language journal, ISSN 0026-7902, Vol. 79, Nº 2, 1995, págs. 235-244
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Dialnet Métricas: 2 Citas
• Resumen

  • MacIntyre (1995, p. 90) takes the position that language anxiety plays a significant causal role in creating individual differences in foreign language (FL) learning. He suggests that our Linguistic Coding Differences Hypothesis (LCDH), which posits that language aptitude is the pTImary source of individual differences in FL achievement, reduces affective vaTIables to a position "devoid of explanatory power." Our response defends our position that language aptitude is likely to account for the largest part of the vaTIance in FL learning. We also descTIbe ways in which affective vaTIables can influence FL learning, although the instances in which they play a causal role is likely to be small. We also suggest that both methodological and conceptual difficulties exist with theoTIes that attTIbute affective and social context vaTIables in FL learning to causal factors. We then propose ways in which MacIntyre and others could counter our argument and posit that a "Strong Inference" approach to research on the vaTIables affecting FL learning would be beneficial to the FL field.