Abstract
This study aims to reveal whether any specific type of vocabulary learning strategy (VLS) leads to higher scores on semi-contextualized word meaning tests—a multiple-choice gap-filling format in which short written contexts are provided. A total of 132 first-year university students learning English as a foreign language completed a VLS questionnaire and a semi-contextualized word meaning test. The relationship between these two variables was examined using Pearson’s correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. The results demonstrated that the relationships between VLS use and test scores were very weak (less than rs = .20), regardless of the strategy type. The smaller correlations compared to those reported in previous studies using vocabulary size tests may be caused by the more complicated constructs involved in the semi-contextualized word meaning test, which requires not only receptive knowledge about word meanings, but also reading comprehension skills and knowledge about word forms and usage in a sentence. However, imagery strategies, such as creating a mental image of word forms, had a very weak but significant positive correlation with the test scores. Based on these results, this study further discusses how Japanese high school students who will take examinations that employ the semi-contextualized word meaning test format should learn vocabulary.
